Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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holm

  • noun [ masculine ]
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Grammar
holm, es; m.
A mound, hill, rising ground; but in this sense, which belongs to the word in the Old Saxon, it is not found in English.
Its most common use in the latter, in the poetry, is in reference to water with the meaning
wave, ocean, water, sea
Show examples

  • Freá engla héht wesan wæter gemǽne ðá stód hraðe holm under heofonum síd ætsomne

    the lord of angels bade the waters be together, then quickly stood ocean under heaven far-stretching continuously,

      Cd. 8; Th. 10, 23; Gen. 161.

  • Holm

    the [Red] sea,

      157; Th. 195, 30; Exod. 284: 166; Th. 206, 9; Exod. 449.

  • Holm

    the water of the deluge,

      71; Th. 86, 15; Gen. 1431.

  • Holm storme weól,

      Beo. Th. 2267; B. 1131.

  • Holm heolfre weóll [

    of the lake where Grendel dwelt

    ], 4282; B. 2137: 3189; B. 1592.

  • Wíde rád ofer holmes hrincg hof séleste [

    of the ark

    ], Cd. 69; Th. 84, 5; Gen. 1393.

  • Eów is holmes hlæst and heofonfuglas and wildu deór on geweald geseald

    the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the earth are delivered into your hand,

      74; Th. 91, 20; Gen. 1515.

  • Wið holme foldan sceldun

    guarded land against sea,

      Exon. 22 a; Th. 61, 4; Cri. 979.

  • On holme, 97 a; Th. 363,

      9; Wal. 51: Beo. Th. 1090; B. 543: 2875; B. 1435.

  • Æt holme

    by the sea,

      3832; B. 1914.

  • Sealt wæter hreóh mé holme besencte

    tempestas demersit me,

      Ps. Th. 68, 2.

  • Ðá wæs heofonweardes gást ofer holm boren

    the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,

      Cd. 6; Th. 8, 7; Gen. 121.

  • Léton holm beran

    they let the sea bear him,

      Beo. Th. 96; B. 48.

  • Ofer wídne holm,

      Exon. 79 a; Th. 296, 23; Crä. 55.

  • Ofer heánne holm,

      Elen. Kmbl. 1962; El. 983: Cd. 213; Th. 266, 4; Sat. 17: Exon. 77 b; Th. 291, 14; Wand. 82.

  • Ðá ic on holm gestáh

    when I embarked,

      Beo. Th. 1269; B. 632: Andr. Kmbl. 858; An. 429.

  • Heá holmas

    deep waters,

      Exon. 54 b; Th. 193, 17; Az. 123.

  • Holmas dǽlde waldend úre

    God divided the waters,

      Cd. 8; Th. 9, 24; Gen. 146: Exon. 93 a; Th. 349, 31; Sch. 54.

  • Hider ofer holmas

    hither over the waves,

      Beo. Th. 485; B. 240.

  • Windge holmas

    stormy seas,

      Exon. 20 a; Th. 53, 26; Cri. 856.

  • Holma begang

    the way across the waters,

      Ps. Th. 138, 18: Andr. Kmbl. 390; An. 195: Bt. Met. Fox 11, 69; Met. 11, 30.

  • Holma geþring,

      Beo. Th. 4271; B. 2132.

  • Holma gelagu,

      Exon. 82 a; Th. 309, 28; Seef. 64.
From the Scandinavian hólmr an islet especially in a bay, creek, lake, or river, it is used in English with the meaning land rising from the water, an island in a river, etc., holm [in local names]
Show examples

  • Ðý ilcan geáre wæs ðæt gefeoht æt ðam Holme Cantwara and ðara Deniscra,

      Chr. 902; Th. 180, col. 2.

  • Hér fór Cnut Cyng tó Denmearcon mid scipon tó ðam holme æt eá ðære hálgan,

      1025; Erl. 163, 7.
Etymology
[Laym. holm: Prompt. Parv. holm, place besydone a water hulmus; of a sonde yn the see bitalassum vel hulmus. v. p. 243, note 2, and 244, note 2.]
Derived forms
DER. sǽ-, wǽg-holm.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “holm.” In An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online, edited by Thomas Northcote Toller, Christ Sean, and Ondřej Tichy. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 2014. https://bosworthtoller.com/19460.

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Full form

Word-wheel

  • holm, n.

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