hird
nounEtymology Borrowed from Norwegian hird, from Old Norse hirð, a borrowing from Old English hīred, hēored (“family, household”), from Proto-West Germanic *hīwarād (“relationship; family”), equivalent to hewe + rede. Cognate with German Heirat (“wedding”).
1
Historical In Norwegian history, an informal retinue of personal armed companions, hirdmen or housecarls.
2
Broadly The formal royal court household.
- Derived terms
- hirdman