hals

Cimbrian

Alternative forms

• haltz (Sette Comuni)

Etymology

From Middle High German hals, from Old High German hals, from Proto-West Germanic *hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz (“neck, throat”). Cognate with German Hals, archaic English halse.

Noun

hals m (Luserna)

1. neck
2. throat

References

• Patuzzi, Umberto, ed., (2013) Luserna / Lusérn: Le nostre parole / Ünsarne börtar / Unsere Wörter , Luserna, Italy: Comitato unitario delle isole linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien

Danish

Danish Wikipedia has an article on:

hals

Wikipedia ^da

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hals/,

Etymology 1

From Old Norse hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz.

Noun

hals c (singular definite halsen, plural indefinite halse)

1. throat
2. neck

Declension

See also

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

hals c

1. indefinite genitive singular of hal

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

hals

1. imperative of halse

Further reading

• “hals” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch hals, from Old Dutch hals, from Proto-West Germanic *hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɦɑls/

• audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: hals
• Rhymes: -ɑls

Noun

hals m (plural halzen, diminutive halsje n)

1. (broad sense) The neck.

   Synonym: nek

2. (narrow sense) The front side of the neck; throat.

   Synonym: keel

3. (metonymically) One's life, survival.

Derived terms

Related terms

• halsstarrig

Descendants

• Negerhollands: hals

Gothic

Romanization

hals

1. Romanization of 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐍃

Icelandic

Noun

hals

1. indefinite genitive singular of halur

Limburgish

Noun

hals m

1. Veldeke spelling spelling of Hals

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch hals, from Proto-West Germanic *hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz.

Noun

hals m

1. neck

Inflection

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Related terms

• helsen

Descendants

• Dutch: hals

Further reading

• “hals”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “hals”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English heals, from Proto-West Germanic *hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz (“neck, throat”). The nautical sense is influenced by Old Norse hals (“neck”).

Noun

hals

1. neck, throat
   • 1380s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parliament of Fowles:

     I dar eek seye, if she me finde fals, / Unkinde, Iangler, or rebel in any wyse, / Or Ialous, do me hongen by the hals!

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (nautical) hawse

Alternative forms

• halce, hauls, hales, hols, hawys
• heals (Early Middle English)

Derived terms

• halsen

Descendants

• English: halse, hawse
• Scots: hause

References

• “hals, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

Verb

hals

1. Alternative form of halsen

Norwegian Bokmål

Norwegian Bokmål Wikipedia has an article on:

hals

Wikipedia ^nb

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hals/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -als
• Hyphenation: hals

Etymology 1

From Old Norse hals (“neck”), from Proto-Germanic *halsaz (“neck, throat”), from Proto-Indo-European *kólsos.

Cognate with English halse, Dutch hals, German Hals, Swedish hals and Danish hals.

Noun

hals m (definite singular halsen, indefinite plural halser, definite plural halsene)

1. (anatomy, zoology) a neck (the part of the body connecting the head and the trunk found in humans and some animals.)
   • 1873, Henrik Ibsen, Kærlighedens komedie, page 125:

     tag grimen af min hals

     take the halter off my neck

   • 1884, Henrik Ibsen, Vildanden, page 71:

     [Hedvig] lægger armen om hans hals

     puts her arm around his neck

   • 1888, Henrik Ibsen, Fruen fra havet, page 207:

     [kledd] i sort helt op til halsen

     in black up to the neck

   • 1907, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnsons fortællinger, page 156:

     [hun] tog hende om halsen

     took her by the neck

   • 1997, Gerd Brantenberg, Augusta og Bjørnstjerne, page 128:

     håret var satt opp, i halsen hadde hun et enkelt gullkjede med hjerte

     her hair was up, around her neck she had a simple gold chain with a heart

   • 2021, Linn Ullmann, Jente, 1983, page 203:

     hun har en blomstrete, V-ringet kjole på seg og et enkelt perlekjede i halsen

     she is wearing a floral V-neck dress and a simple pearl necklace around her neck

   • 2019, Nina Lykke, Full spredning, page 147:

     vi sitter i halsen i dette [hjernens belønningssystem som trigges av det uforutsigbare], og ingen slipper unna

     we're stuck in this and no one escapes

   • 2011, Roy Jacobsen, Anger:

     de kastet seg om halsen på hverandre og klemte og gråt

     they embraced each other and hugged and cried

   • 1993 August 23, Bergens Tidende, page 24:

     kan du fatte det, sa Trine [Hattestad etter å ha blitt verdensmester i spydkast] og falt om halsen på sin trener

     can you imagine that, said Trine and embraced her coach

   • 1958 March 29, VG, page 4:

     kommunistene og de borgerlige falt om halsen på hverandre og stilte fellesliste ved valg til formannskapet

     the communists and the bourgeois came to an agreement and put up a joint list in elections for the chairmanship

   • 2000 May 31, Adresseavisen, page 6:

     Dostojevskij … trodde at Russland og Europa ville falle om halsen på hverandre i kjølvannet av reformene og de store forandringene

     Dostoevsky ... believed that Russia and Europe would come to an agreement in the wake of the reforms and the great changes

   • 2008 May 15, Klassekampen:

     vi [burde] falt om halsen på innvandrerne og tryglet om tilgivelse

     we show great gratitude to the immigrants and beg for forgiveness

   • 1900, Vilhelm Krag, Isaac Seehuusen, page 283:

     han [hørte] kjærrerne komme. Og nu gjorde han lang hals

     he the carts coming. And now he was stretching to get a good look

   • 1908, Peter Egge, Lænken, page 37:

     hun skjøt hals

     she stretched out her neck

   • 2000, Kari Bøge, For alt jeg vet:

     [jeg] strekker hals for å se best mulig mellom hodene på dem som sitter foran

     stretch out my neck to see as best as possible between the heads of those sitting in front

   • 1882, Henrik Ibsen, En folkefiende, page 215:

     partiprogrammerne vri’r halsen om på alle unge levedygtige sandheder

     the party programs kills all young viable truths

   • 1892, Henrik Ibsen, Bygmester Solness, page 116:

     skrækken havde rystet Aline så forfærdelig stærkt. Brandlarmen, – udflytningen – så’n over hals og hode

     the terror had shaken Aline so horribly. The fire alarm, - the eviction - so hastily

   • 1904, Jacob Breda Bull, Folkelivsbilleder II, page 243:

     markmus og kjøttmeiser flygted hals over hoved

     field mice and great tits fled hastily

   • 1917, Clara Tschudi, Ludwig den anden, page 22:

     digter-komponisten havde over hals og hoved maattet flygte fra Østerriges hovedstad

     the poet-composer had to hastily flee from Austria's capital

   • 1890, Henrik Ibsen, Hedda Gabler, page 232:

     jeg er altså i Deres magt, assessor. De har hals og hånd over mig fra nu af

     I am therefore in your power, assessor. You have power over my destiny from now on

   sitte til halsen i ― get stuck in (a problematic situation)

   kaste seg om halsen på ― to embrace (someone)

   falle om halsen på ― to embrace; come to an agreement; be grateful

   gjøre lang hals; strekke/skyte hals ― stretch in order to get a good look

   vri/dreie halsen om på noen ― violently end someone's life

   hals over hode; over hode og hals ― hastily and without time for further preparation

   ha hals og hånd over ― hold one's destiny in one's hand

   1. (chiefly literary) Used in fixed expressions related to execution by decapitation.
      • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt, page 137:

        hans kejserdom er om en hals!

        his empire is in a dangerous situation!

      • 1930, Knut Hamsun, August II, page 169:

        det var ikke frit for at jeg blev om en hals naar at hun saa paa mig

        it was not free for me to be in a life-threatening situation when she looked at me

      • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, De unges forbund, page 22:

        Nå, nå, nå! Ikke så ivrig! Det har været figurligt ment, det gi’er jeg min hals på

        Well, well, well! Not so eager! It was meant figuratively, I swear by it

      • 1899, Alexander Kielland, Garman og Worse, page 161:

        jeg er folkets mand paa min hals

        I am passionately a man of the people

      være om en hals ― be in a life-threatening situation

      gi sin hals på noe ― to ensure

      være noe på sin hals ― be something passionately

2. (anatomy) a nape (the back part of the neck.)

   Synonym: nakke

   1. Used in fixed expressions related to draft animals carrying something.
      • 1918, Gabriel Scott, Kilden, page 183:

        [en kunne] faa sygdom paa halsen

        get a disease after you

      • 1919, Kristian Elster, Av Skyggernes Slegt, page 191:

        vil du endelig ha dig en forkjølelse paa halsen

        will you finally have a cold on you

      • 1877, Henrik Ibsen, Samfundets støtter, page 69:

        De hører jo hvad det gælder for mig, – enten at få pressen på halsen eller få den velvilligt stemt for mig

        After all, they hear what matters to me, - either to have the press after me or to have it benevolently voted for me

      • 1853, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Fra det nationale gjennembruds tid. Breve fra Jørgen Moe til P. Chr. Asbjørnsen og andre, page 273:

        [vi] burde vel … see om vi kunde faae fra halsen hvad vi har [av eventyr]

        should probably ... see if we could get off our necks what we have

      • 1872, Henrik Ibsen, Kongs-Emnerne, page 43:

        havde jeg Ribbungerne vel fra halsen, så foer jeg selv vestover

        If I had the Ribb children off my neck, I would go west myself

      få/ha noe(n) på halsen; skaffe seg noe(n) på halsen ― get something/someone on your neck

      ha noe(n) fra halsen; skaffe seg noe(n) fra halsen ― get something/someone off your neck

3. (anatomy) a throat (the front part of the neck; as well as the gullet or windpipe.)
   • 1830, Conrad N. Schwach, Erindringer af mit Liv indtil Ankomsten til Throndhjem, page 370:

     kl. 10 gik man til spisebordet, hvor man til to, tre, stundom fire retter varm mad sjelden kunde slippe med mindre end to eller tre flasker viin, som jeg … fordetmeste skilte mig ved ved at gaae ud og stikke fingeren i halsen

     at 10 o'clock you went to the dining table, where, for two, three, sometimes four courses of hot food, you could rarely get away with less than two or three bottles of wine, which I ... mostly distinguished myself by going out and sticking my finger in my throat

   • 1917, Lorentz Dietrichson, Svundne Tider IV, page 249:

     jeg [søkte] gjerne … en opfriskende anekdote eller et paradox, som rev i halsen

     I was for ... a refreshing anecdote or a paradox, which tore at the throat

   • 1919, Rocambole Pedersen, Den forsvundne pølsemaker, page 117:

     da jeg vaaknet, var jeg græsselig tør i halsen

     when I woke up, my throat was very dry

   • 1998, Erik Fosnes Hansen, Beretninger om beskyttelse, page 182:

     [legen kikket] henne i halsen, og banket henne på knærne med en hammer

     poked her in the throat, and beat her on her knees with a hammer

   • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt, page 64:

     i øjet latter; i halsen gråd

     in the eye laughter; about to cry

   • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt, page 257:

     der sætter han på sprang med tungen af halsen

     there he starts running with his tongue hanging out

   ha gråten i halsen ― be about to cry

   ha tungen ut av halsen ― out of breath after running (like a dog with its tongue out)

   en sår hals

   a sore throat

   han hadde vondt i halsen

   his throat hurt

   1. Used in certain set expressions related to the consumption of food
      • 1985, Pål Steigan, På den himmelske freds plass, page 190:

        [si] ting som får det dannede borgerskap til å sette kanapeene i halsen

        things that make the educated bourgeoisie to choke on their canapes

      • 1988, Ingvar Ambjørnsen, Døden på Oslo S, page 27:

        Mutter satte geitostskiva i halsen, og jeg måtte banke henne i ryggen av all kraft

        Mother choked on a slice of goat's cheese, and I had to hit her in the back with all my might

      • 1985, Pål Steigan, På den himmelske freds plass, page 59:

        de som er unge i 1985 må vel ha den såkalte 68-generasjonen fullstendig i halsen, sjølopptatt som den er

        those who were young in 1985 must have had the so-called 68 generation completely in their throats, self-absorbed as it is

      • 1988, Espen Haavardsholm, Mannen fra Jante:

        han er i ferd med å få seg sjøl fullstendig i halsen

        he is about to get completely full of himself

      • 1994, Karsten Alnæs, Sabina:

        tyske skrytetaler, de svulmer slik at jeg får dem i halsen

        German braggadocios, they swell so that I get them in my throat

      • 2010, Ivo de Figueiredo, Henrik Ibsen, page 163:

        Bjørnson holdt rett og slett på å få Ibsens iltre, smålige og angstbiterske vesen opp i halsen

        Bjørnson was simply getting Ibsen's angry, petty and anxiety-biting nature up his throat

      å sette i halsen ― to choke on something

      få/ha i halsen ― strongly oppose something/someone

   2. Used in certain set expressions related to the throat and vocal chords.
      • 1830, Conrad N. Schwach, Erindringer af mit Liv indtil Ankomsten til Throndhjem, page 122:

        visiteuren … hørte os lee af fuld hals

        the visitor ... heard us laughing at the top of our voices

      • 2009, Karl Ove Knausgård, Min kamp 3, page 349:

        musikken strømmet ut av den lille kassettspilleren og jeg sang med av full hals og drømte om å bli berømt

        the music poured out of the little cassette player and I sang along at the top of my voice, dreaming of becoming famous

      • 1907, Johan Sebastian Welhaven, Samlede Digterverker IV, page 68:

        jagthunden Tyran, … gav … hals i det samme

        the hound Tyran, ... barked in the same

      • 2000, Sophie Dedekam, Dagbok og brev fra en reise til Paris i 1845, page 3:

        det overraskede mig … at jeg allerede maatte give hals saa tidlig

        it surprised me... that I already had throw up so early

      • 1896, Lorentz Dietrichson, Svundne Tider I, page 372:

        næsten hele «Nordens fremtidshaab» [studentene] maatte give hals og ofre til havets guder

        almost the entire "Nordens fremtidshaab" had to throw up and sacrifice to the gods of the sea

      av full hals ― at the top of one's voice

      gi hals ― to bark; throw up

4. (clothing) a garment that covers the neck
   1. (clothing) a neck (the part of a shirt, dress etc., which fits a person's neck.)
      • 1975, Gisken Wildenvey, Kjærlighet varer lengst, page 42:

        jeg [kjøpte] meg en bluse av hvit musselin, den hadde en blå silkekant i halsen

        I a blouse of white muslin, it had a blue silk border at the neck

      • 2009, Karl Ove Knausgård, Min kamp 3, page 159:

        hun hadde på seg en hvit genser med høy hals

        she was wearing a white sweater with a high neck

   2. (clothing) a type of neckwarmer, primarily for children, which is worn over the head and covers the neck and chest
5. (figuratively) narrow object or part of an object which resembles a neck
   • 1956, Ellen Gleditsch, Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, page 61:

     retortens hals var bøyet og munnet ut i en klokke fylt med vann

     the neck of the retort was bent and opened into a bell filled with water

   1. (music) a neck (the extension of any stringed instrument on which a fingerboard is mounted.)
   2. (music) a vertical stroke (up or down) from the head of a note
   3. (anatomy) a narrow part of bone, organ etc.

      Hypernyms: lårhals, livmorhals, tannhals

   4. (chiefly dialectal) a narrow piece of land between two waters or mountains
   5. (chiefly dialectal) a narrow inlet to a fjord or a bay; narrow part at the mouth of a valley
   6. (nautical) the front lower corner of a sail; a waist which holds this corner in place during sailing
      • 1879, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Norske Folke- og Huldre-Eventyr, page 57:

        en af sønnerne sad ved styret, den anden sad ved halsen, den tredje var mellemrumsmand

        one of the sons sat at the helm, the other sat at the neck, the third was a spaceman

      ligge for styrbords/babords halser ― have the necks set on the port side

      hals og skjøt! ― command when the necks of the lowersails are to be thrown loose

   7. (nautical) a short board or plank in the hull nearest the stems of a vessel
      1. (nautical) a part of the two upper bottom tables that abut up to the lot (of a Nordland boat)
   8. (dialectal, nautical) the front part of an open sailboat (at the neck of the square rig)
      • 1865, H. Schulze, Fra Lofoten og Solør, page 71:

        Gammelanders satte sig til roret, og Ola Sogning blev plaseret i halsen

        Gammelanders sat at the helm, and Ola Sogning was placed in the neck

      • 1873, Jonas Lie, Den Fremsynte, page 70:

        [sjøene] brød ind over halsen der forud, hvor Bernt sad

        broke in over the neck ahead, where Bernt was sitting

   9. opening of a mold through which a metal is poured
   10. a narrow descent to a basement

       Hypernym: kjellerhals

6. (metonymically, of a person) Used to form certain specific set nouns related to a person.
   • 1872, Henrik Ibsen, Kongs-Emnerne, page 31:

     Anders Skjaldarband er en hård hals, lad jer ikke kue

     Anders Skjaldarband is a tough guy, don't be cowed

   • 1886, Alexander Kielland, Sne, page 68:

     en kraftig Herrens tjener, som kunde … bøie de haarde halse

     a powerful servant of the Lord, who could ... bend the tough guys

   • 1911, Øvre Richter Frich, De knyttede næver, page 73:

     livet er stundom saa brutalt, at det ryster de haardeste halse til eftertanke

     life is sometimes so brutal that it shakes the hardest people to think

   • 1920, Sigrid Undset, Kransen, page 104:

     de gale halsene maatte staa til skrifte og bøte og fik haarde irettesættelser

     the crazy people had to confess and pay a fine and received harsh reprimands

   • 1921, Sigrid Undset, Husfrue, page 110:

     et helt følge av tugtløse og gale halser

     a whole retinue of undisciplined and crazy people

   Hypernyms: løgnhals, skrålhals, vågehals

Derived terms

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

hals

1. imperative of halse

References

• “hals” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “hals” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).
• “hals” in Store norske leksikon

Norwegian Nynorsk

Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:

hals

Wikipedia ⁿⁿ

Alternative forms

• håls’e, hås, hols, hæls (hæłs, hærs), heils (dialectal)

Etymology

From Old Norse hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hals/, /haːʂ/

Noun

hals m (definite singular halsen, indefinite plural halsar, definite plural halsane)

1. neck, throat

Derived terms

Related terms

References

• “hals” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old Frisian

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *hals.

Noun

hals m

1. neck, throat

Inflection

Descendants

• Saterland Frisian: Hoals
• West Frisian: hals

Old High German

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz. Cognate with Old English healh, Old Norse hals, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐍃 (hals).

Noun

hals m

1. neck

Declension

Descendants

• Middle High German: hals
  • Cimbrian: hals, haltz
  • German: Hals
  • Luxembourgish: Hals
  • Yiddish: האַלדז (haldz)

Old Norse

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *halsaz, whence also Old English heals, Dutch hals, Old Saxon hals, Old High German hals, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐍃 (hals).

Noun

hals m (genitive hals, plural halsar)

1. neck

Declension

Descendants

• Icelandic: háls
• Faroese: hálsur
• Norn: hals, håls, hwåls
• Norwegian Nynorsk: hals; (dialectal) håls’e, hås
• Old Swedish: hals
  • Swedish: hals
• Danish: hals
  • Norwegian Bokmål: hals
• Gutnish: hals

Polish

Polish Wikipedia has an article on:

hals

Wikipedia ^pl

Etymology

Borrowed from German Hals or Dutch hals.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /xals/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -als
• Syllabification: hals
• Homophone: Hals

Noun

hals m inan

1. (nautical) tack (maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other)
2. (nautical) tack (distance a sailing vessel runs between such maneuvers when working to windward)
3. (nautical) tack (rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses)

Declension

Further reading

• hals in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• hals in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• hals in PWN's encyclopedia

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse hals, from Proto-Germanic *halsaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kólsos.

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• Homophone: halls

Noun

hals c

1. (front of the) neck (of a person or animal)
2. neck (of a bottle or the like)
3. throat

Declension

Derived terms

See also

• nacke
• strupe
• svalg

References

• hals in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• hals in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• hals in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)