Hi Stefano,

(Old + Modern) Icelandic edik, Old Swedish ætik(i)a, etc. is a loanword from Latin acetum via Middle Low German etik.  Terminology to do with grape-wine specifically (as opposed to other fermented beverages), including the word wine itself, Old Norse vín, was borrowed into the Germanic languages from Latin.  I couldn't find any examples of this word in the Órðabók Háskólans database of Old Icelandic texts.  Fritzner's dictionary has a couple of examples, but both refer to the drink that Jesus was given on the cross: gáfu honum edik við galli blandit "they gave him vinegar mixed with gall"; várum herra var gefit edik at drekka af á krossinum "Our Lord was given vinegar to drink of on the cross."  So I don't know if there are any examples that refer to daily life in a Scandinavian context, or whether similar practices were applied to mead, beer, cider or other fermented fruit juice.

Llama Nom

--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, Stefano Mazza <stefanomzz@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Everybody
>
> I know that this goes a little off topic, but for a forthcoming
> publication in which I'm involved, I would like to ask if anybody knows
> something about vinegar making and its use in norse sources. I've
> started to search something but I wasn't able to find anything about
> this theme. I wonder, anyway, that a culture with a strong knowledge of
> mead, ale and wine making must also be aware of vinegar and acetic
> fermentation, but evidently it was of scarce interest for the ancient
> scandinavian people, even for medical purposes.
> I'll keep searching on my own, but I think that maybe someone of you can
> help me.
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Stefano
> Chiacchiera con i tuoi amici in tempo reale!
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>