Thanks LN splendid - I recognised some  but not all - I find this valuable in my studies of
Linguistics
Kveðja
Patricia 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: llama_nom
Date: 29/04/2007 17:56:57
Subject: [norse_course] Re: Njal ch 58 Beginning Patricia's Translation (maki, make, match)
 


> Note - comment about Gunnar - no one equal to him/ his strength
> There is a dialectic expression today "Not of his make" which means
the same thing as not of his strength / calibre this seems to have
come down from the O/N word - máki as in "no one around of his make
anymore"

Yes, this is an old meaning of 'make' in English, equivalent to ON
'maki' (*short vowel*).

1509 A. BARCLAY tr. S. Brant Shyp of Folys f. ccxxx, Lo yonder same is
he Whiche without make thynketh hym wyse to be.
"Lo, yonder same is he who thinks himself to be without equal."

1596 J. DALRYMPLE tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 45 Elgin,
quhair is sa noble and notable a kirke in beutie and decore that with
vs it hes na make.
"Where is so noble and notable a church in beauty and decor that has
no equal among us."

Also sometimes spelt 'mak' and 'maik' in Scots:

1724 A. RAMSAY Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 28 Your Tocher it sall be
good There's nane sall hae it's maik.
"Your dowry it will be good. There's no one who'll have its like."

The OED cites Old Northumbrian (the northern dialect of Old English)
'maca' as the ancestor of 'make', but this is only attested once, and
I guess 'make' could well have been reintroduced or reinforced from
Old Norse. Most surviving Old English texts are in the southern West
Saxon dialect, which uses the word 'ge-mæcca' instead (derived from
the same root), and this became Modern English 'match'. The English
words 'make' and 'match' also used to mean "spouse", just like
Icelandic 'maki', or partner/lover/ mate, or partner/companion.

LN