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gisl. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
gisl, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
gisl in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
gisl you have here. The definition of the word
gisl will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
gisl, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *gīsl, from Proto-Germanic *gīslaz, a loanword from Proto-Celtic *geistlos. Cognate with Old Saxon gīsal, Old Dutch *gīsal, Old High German gīsal, Old Norse gísl.
Pronunciation
Noun
ġīsl m
- a hostage
Hū lange hieltst þū ūs tō ġīslum?- How long are you going to hold us hostage?
Wē ġīslas wurdon on þone hrōf ġebrōht þæt man ġesāwe þæt wē ġīet lifden.- They took us hostages up on the roof so people could see that we were still alive.
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius' History Against the Pagans
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 ġīsl (strong a-stem)
Derived terms