gisl

See also: gísl

Old English

Alternative forms

ġīsel

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *gīslaz, a loanword from Proto-Celtic *gēstlos. Cognate with Old Saxon gīsal, Middle Dutch gisel (Dutch gijzelaar), Old High German gīsal (German Geisel), Old Norse gísl.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈjiːsl̩/, [ˈjiːzl̩]

Noun

ġīsl m

a hostage
Hū lange hieltst þū ūs tō ġīslum?
How long are you going to hold us hostage?
- c. 900, the Old English Orosius
  Hē ġenīedde bēġen þā cyningas þæt hīe sealdon heora suna tō ġīslum.
  He forced both the kings to give their sons as hostages.

Declension

Declension of gisl (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ġīsl	ġīslas
accusative	ġīsl	ġīslas
genitive	ġīsles	ġīsla
dative	ġīsle	ġīslum

Derived terms

ġīslhād
ġīslian