gisel

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *gīslaz, a loanword from Proto-Celtic *gēstlos (compare Old Irish gíall (“hostage”), Welsh gwystl). Cognate with Old Saxon gīsal, Middle Dutch gisel (Dutch gijzelaar), Old High German gīsal (German Geisel), Old Norse gísl.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈjiːzel/

Noun

ġīsel m

  1. a hostage
    He him aðas swor and gislas salde. (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle)
    He swore oaths to them and gave them hostages.
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