Dictionary:hvessa

Nynorn

Etymology

An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland (1928–1932)

Jakobsen, Jakob

hwess¹ [hwəs(s)], hwiss [hwɩs(s)], hwizz [hwɩz], vb., properly to sharpen, but only handed down in the following metaph. senses: 1) of wind: to increase; sporadically; he is kwissin [kwɩssɩn, kwɩzzɩn] op (Conn.), the wind is increasing. 2) to speak sharply and harshly to someone; sporadically in all the given forɩns; to h. at a body [‘person’]; freq. with object: “to h. a body”, by mingling with another word, see kwiss, vb. — O.N. hvessa, vb., a) to whet, sharpen; b) of wind: to increase; No. kvessa, vb., inter alia to speak sharply, Fær. kvessa í ein, to address someone hotly and angrily. — The Shetl. form hwizz has arisen by mingling with Eng. whizz, vb.

Shetland use

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Pronunciation

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Alternate Forms

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Verb

1. sharpen

Synonyms

(none known)