fyrd

Etymology

Borrowed from Old English fyrd.

Noun

fyrd (plural fyrds)

1. (historical) In early Anglo-Saxon times, an army that was mobilized from freemen to defend their shire, or from select representatives to join a royal expedition.
   • Regia Anglorum - Anglo-Saxon Social Organisation:
   • Below the king were the eoldermen, the ruling nobility. The eolderman was the king's 'viceroy' in a shire, responsible for administration and justice, for calling out the fyrd and leading its forces in the field.

Alternative forms

• fierd, feord

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *fardiz, from Proto-Indo-European *per-. Cognate with Old Frisian ferd (West Frisian feard), Old Saxon fard (Low German fard), Old Dutch fard (Dutch vaart), Old High German vart (German Fahrt), Old Norse ferð (Danish færd, Swedish färd). The Indo-European root is also the source of Greek πορθμός (porthmós) and Latin portus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fyrd/

Noun

fyrd f

1. a national army, the entire land force of a country or nation
2. military service
3. army, militia; military expedition, campaign
4. camp