hnefi

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse hnefi, nefi, of unknown origin. Cognate with Swedish näve, Dalbian (Varmelandia) na’v.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈn̥ɛːvɪ/

  Rhymes: -ɛːvɪ

Noun

hnefi m (genitive singular hnefa, nominative plural hnefar)

1. a fist

   Allir þögnuðu þegar hún sló hnefanum í borðið.

   Everybody went silent as she struck the table with her fist.

2. a handful, a fistful, what a clenched fist can hold

Declension

declension of hnefi

m-w1	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	hnefi	hnefinn	hnefar	hnefarnir
accusative	hnefa	hnefann	hnefa	hnefana
dative	hnefa	hnefanum	hnefum	hnefunum
genitive	hnefa	hnefans	hnefa	hnefanna

Synonyms

• (fist): knefi m, kreppt hönd f
• (fistful): hnefafylli f, handfylli, hnefi, lúka

Derived terms

• hnefahögg
• hnefaleikar
• hnefatafl
• kreppa hnefann
• með hnúum og hnefum
• steyta hnefann (to make a fist)
• stýfa úr hnefa

See also

• krumla