Introduction

LMNL

A Lexicon of Medieval Nordic Law (LMNL) is a multilingual reference work designed to make terminology from several medieval legal texts more accessible to English-speaking audiences. It contains over 7,000 Nordic headwords, more than 10,000 English equivalents and approximately 13,200 cross-references. It is intended to function as a general lexicon of medieval Nordic legal terminology. Where possible the editors have combined related terms in multiple languages under the same headword in order to highlight similarities throughout the Nordic region during the Middle Ages. The LMNL differs from other reference works, and in particular other lexica, by its presentation of related terms from multiple languages within a single entry in a manner similar to the Kulturhistoriskt lexikon för nordisk medeltid (KLNM). Around a quarter of the entries feature a brief text articulating how the term fits into the legal landscape. Creation of the LMNL has been made possible in large part due to generous project grants from the Swedish Research Council (2014–2017) and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (2022–2023) and the gracious cooperation of members of the ongoing Medieval Nordic Laws (MNL) project begun at the University of Aberdeen in 2009. Draft English translations supplied by them, along with a small number of published translations (see table below), form the basis of this lexicon. Additional support was provided by the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, which supplied funding for translations and revisions of some MNL laws and for the LMNL colloquium held in Stockholm in November 2015.

Material

LMNL is built upon 31 legal texts, mainly provincial laws, written in Old Swedish, Old Icelandic, Old Norwegian, Old Danish, Old Gutnish and Old Faroese. Material for the lexicon was taken from editions used in the latest English translations of the oldest medieval Nordic laws, many of which were produced as part of the Medieval Nordic Laws project. With such a large textual corpus and a relatively short timeframe in which to work, it was deemed most feasible to collect Nordic legal terms and phrases and present them with the English equivalents selected by the translators of the texts in which those terms appear. Modern English equivalents throughout the LMNL are therefore largely taken directly from draft and published translations with minimal interpretation by the editors. Editorial interventions generally consist of minor adjustments in cases where idiomatic translations would be confusing when removed from their contexts. Equivalents in subsequent published translations will possibly vary somewhat from those presented here. Medieval terms have been drawn from editions utilized by the translators. The following table is a list of texts cited, their common abbreviations and bibliographic information on the editions and translations used for the LMNL.

BjR	Bjärköarätten	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1844. Juris urbici codex antiquior: Bjärköa-rätten. SSGL. Vol. 6. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. U. Djärv (draft trans.)
BorgL	Borgartingsloven	Halvorsen, Eyvind Fjeld and Magnus Rindal, eds. 2008. De eldste østlandske kristenrettene. Oslo: Riksarkivet. [Version 1, AM 78 4to] L. Collinson (draft trans.) Subsequently published as Collinson, Lisa, trans./ Landro, Torgeir and Nilsson, Bertil, ed. 2021. The Borgarthing Law and the Eidsivathing Law: The Laws of Eastern Norway. London: Routledge.
DL	Dalalagen	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1841. Codex iuris Vestmannici: Westmanna-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 5. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. I. Larsson (draft trans.)
EidsL	Eidsivatingsloven	Halvorsen, Eyvind Fjeld and Magnus Rindal, eds. 2008. De eldste østlandske kristenrettene. Oslo: Riksarkivet. [Longer version, AM 68 4to] L. Collinson (draft trans.) Subsequently published as Collinson, Lisa, trans./ Landro, Torgeir and Nilsson, Bertil, ed. 2021. The Borgarthing Law and the Eidsivathing Law: The Laws of Eastern Norway. London: Routledge.
ESjL	Eriks sjællandske lov	Skautrup, Peter, ed. 1936. Eriks sjællandske lov, text 1–2. DGL. Vol. 5. Copenhagen: Gyldendal. Tamm, Ditlev and Helle Vogt, trans. 2016. The Danish Medieval Laws: The Laws of Scania, Zealand and Jutland. London: Routledge.
FrL	Frostatingsloven	Keyser, R and P. A. Munch, eds. 1846. Norges gamle Love indtil 1387. Vol. 1. Christiania: Grøndahl. A. Mindrebø and J. S. Love (draft trans.)
GL	Gutalagen	Pipping, Hugo, ed. 1905–07. Guta lag och Guta saga jämte ordbok. Samfund til Udgivelse af gammel nordisk Litteratur 33. Copenhagen: Møller. Peel, Christine, trans. 2015. Guta Lag and Guta Saga: The Law and History of the Gotlanders. London: Routledge.
Grg	Grágás	Vilhjálmur Finsen, ed. 1852 (repr. 1974). Grágás: Konungsbók. Odense: Odense Universitetsforlag. Dennis, Andrew, Peter Foote and Richard Perkins, trans. 1980–2000. Laws of Early Iceland: Grágás; The Codex Regius of Grágás with material from other manuscripts. 2 vols. Winnipeg: Univ. of Manitoba.
GS	Gutasagan	Pipping, Hugo, ed. 1905–07. Guta lag och Guta saga jämte ordbok. Samfund til Udgivelse af gammel nordisk Litteratur 33. Copenhagen: Møller. Peel, Christine, trans. 2015. Guta Lag and Guta Saga: The Law and History of the Gotlanders. London: Routledge.
GuL	Gulatingsloven	Keyser, R and P. A. Munch, eds. 1846. Norges gamle Love indtil 1387. Vol. I. Christiania: Grøndahl. E. Simensen (draft trans.) Subsequently published as Simensen, Erik, trans. 2021. The Older Gulathing Law. London: Routledge.
HL	Hälsingelagen	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1844. Codex iuris Helsingici: Helsinge-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 6. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. S. Brink (draft trans.)
Jó	Jónsbók	Schulman, Jana K, ed. and trans. 2010. Jónsbók. The Laws of Later Iceland. Saarbrücken: AQ-Verlag.
Js	Járnsíða	Haraldur Bernharðsson, Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon and Már Jónsson, eds. 2005. Járnsíða og Kristinréttur Árna Þorlákssonar. Reykjavík: Sögufélagið. J. S. Love (draft trans.)
JyL	Jyske lov	Skautrup, Peter, ed. 1933. Jyske lov, text 1: NkS 295 8o. DGL Vol. 2. Copenhagen: Gyldendal. Tamm, Ditlev and Helle Vogt, trans. 2016. The Danish Medieval Laws: The Laws of Scania, Zealand and Jutland. London: Routledge.
KRA	Kristinréttr Árna Þorlákssonar	Haraldur Bernharðsson, Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon and Már Jónsson, eds. 2005. Járnsíða og Kristinréttur Árna Þorlákssonar. Reykjavík: Sögufélagið. J. S. Love (draft trans.)
KrL	Kristoffers landslag	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1869. Codex iuris communis Sueciae Christophorianus: Konung Christoffers landslag. SSGL. Vol. 4. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. U. Djärv (draft trans. modelled on Donner 2000 (see MEL below))
MEL	Magnus Erikssons landslag	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1862. Codex iuris communis Sueciae Magnaeanus: Konung Magnus Erikssons landslag. SSGL. Vol. 10. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. Donner, Ruth, trans. 2000. King Magnus Eriksson’s Law of the Realm: a Medieval Swedish Code. Acta societatis fennicae iuris gentium series C2. Helsinki: Ius Gentium Association.
MESt	Magnus Erikssons stadslag	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1865. Codex iuris urbici Magnaeanus: Konung Magnus Erikssons stadslag. SSGL. Vol. 11. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. U. Djärv (draft trans. modelled on Donner 2000 (see MEL above))
MLL	Magnus Håkonsson Lagabøtes landslov	Rindal, Magnus and Bjørg Dale Spørck, ed. 2018. Kong Magnus Håkonsson Lagabøtes landslov: norrøn tekst med fullstendig variantapparat. Norrøne tekster 9. Oslo: Arkivverket. J. S. Love (draft trans.)
SdmL	Södermannalagen	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1838. Codex iuris Sudermannici: Södermanna-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 4. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. U. Djärv (draft trans.)
Seyð	Seyðabrævið	Poulsen, Jóhan Hendrik W. and Ulf Zachariasen, eds. Michael Barnes and David R. Margolin, trans. 1971. Seyðabrævið. Tórshavn: Føroya Fróðskaparfelag.
SkBL	Skånske bylov	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1859. Codex iuris ecclesiastici ac urbici Scaniae: Skånska kyrkrätten och stadsrätten. SSGL. Vol. 9. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. U. Djärv (draft trans.)
SkKL	Skånske kirkelov	Aakjær, Svend and Erik Kroman, eds. 1933. Skånske lov: Anders Sunesøns parafrase, skånske kirkelov. DGL Vol. 1, bk. 2. Copenhagen: Gyldendal. Tamm, Ditlev and Helle Vogt, trans. 2016. The Danish Medieval Laws: The Laws of Scania, Zealand and Jutland. London: Routledge.
SkL	Skånske lov	Brøndum-Nielsen, Johs and Svend Aakjær, eds. 1933. Skånske lov, text 1–3. DGL. Vol. 1, bk. 1. Copenhagen: Gyldendal. Tamm, Ditlev and Helle Vogt, trans. 2016. The Danish Medieval Laws: The Laws of Scania, Zealand and Jutland. London: Routledge.
SmL	Smålandslagen (Tiohärads lag)	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1844. Codicis iuris Smalandici pars de re ecclesiastica: Kristnu-balken af Smålands-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 6. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. S. Fridell (draft trans.)
UL	Upplandslagen	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1834. Codex iuris Uplandici: Uplands-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 3. Stockholm: P. A. Norstedt & Söner. C. Peel (draft trans.)
VmL	Västmannalagen	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1841. Codex iuris Vestmannici: Westmanna-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 5. Lund: Berlingska boktryckeriet. C. Peel (draft trans.)
VSjL	Valdemars sjællandske lov	Kroman, Erik, ed. 1941. Valdemars sjællandske lov, ældre og yngre redaktion. DGL. Vol. 8. Copenhagen: Gyldendal. Tamm, Ditlev and Helle Vogt, trans. 2016. The Danish Medieval Laws: The Laws of Scania, Zealand and Jutland. London: Routledge.
YVgL	Yngre Västgötalagen	Schlyter, C. J. and H. S. Collin, eds. 1827. Codex iuris vestrogotici: Westgöta-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 1. Stockholm: Z. Hæggström. T. Lindkvist (draft trans.) Subsequently published as Lindkvist, Thomas, trans. 2021. The Västgöta Laws. London: Routledge.
ÄVgL	Äldre Västgötalagen	Schlyter, C. J. and H. S. Collin, eds. 1827. Codex iuris vestrogotici: Westgöta-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 1. Stockholm: Z. Hæggström. T. Lindkvist (draft trans.) Subsequently published as Lindkvist, Thomas, trans. 2021. The Västgöta Laws. London: Routledge.
ÖgL	Östgötalagen	Schlyter, C. J., ed. 1830. Codex iuris Ostrogotici: Östgöta-lagen. SSGL. Vol. 2. Stockholm: P. A. Norstedt & Söner. J. Benham and S. Fridell (draft trans.)

Headword selection

Contents of the LMNL represent only a selection of material from the available medieval legal texts. Four of the editors were given the discretion to determine which terms were legally relevant and merited inclusion in the lexicon. Central legal concepts have been included, as have an expanded set of terms deemed germane to the legal culture of the period. These lists were subsequently brought together to form the core of the lexicon. Not all terms were considered equally necessary by every editor, but all selected terms have been retained in the lexicon with the understanding that some terms may have a more legal significance in one text than in another. Therefore not every term included has been excerpted from all sources used in the LMNL. It is hoped that further material can be included in subsequent editions of the LMNL.

Principles for lemmatization

The LMNL is intended to illustrate how cognate terms function across the breadth of the medieval Nordic region. To accomplish this, closely related terms have often been gathered under a single headword. A distinction has been drawn between words with the same meaning that differ merely in the form of a prefix or suffix (which are gathered under one headword) and those that are a combination of distinct elements forming words with the same meaning (which have been treated separately). Thus lyte (ODan) and áljótr (ON) are treated together under the headword lyti (OSw), while arvi (OSw) and arftaki (OSw) are kept separate despite both meaning ‘heir’. Certain linguistic distinctions, such as nominal gender and verbal prefixes, have been ignored, as with the OGu and ON terms for ‘to gamble’ (dufla), which can be found under fordoble (ODan). Extensive cross-references throughout the LMNL ensure that subordinated headword forms and variants remain accessible. Grammatical description has been limited to part of speech for Nordic headwords and in distinguishing homonyms within the English>Nordic section.

Entry content

Each entry contains English equivalents and textual references as found in most dictionaries treating historical languages. The headword line lists forms of the excerpted term, including some of the most common spelling variants. Entries in the lexicon are lemmatized and organized according to the Old Swedish form of the headword, if there is one, as the Old Swedish laws form the bulk of the source material within the LMNL. Otherwise the terms are alphabetized according to the Nordic language abbreviation.

Sample entry

Headword forms

Normalized headword forms have been adopted from the most comprehensive dictionaries currently available to enable consultation of earlier and ongoing lexicographic efforts. The forms of the Old Swedish and Old Gutnish headwords have been taken more or less directly from Schlyter’s Ordbok till Samlingen af Sweriges gamla lagar, and Old Danish headwords follow the online Gammeldansk Ordbog wherever possible. Old Icelandic, Old Norwegian and Old Faroese entries are listed under the normalized Old Norse (ON) given in the Dictionary of Old Norse Prose. Some negative adjective forms are given their own headword (e.g. ogipter, ólýstr), and certain participial verbal forms are here treated as adjectives. Some headwords with multiple common forms are listed as alternatives to facilitate easier seaching. Alternative forms were selected by editorial discretion and are not intended to be comprehensive.

Grammar

Grammatical analysis has been limited to part of speech for Nordic headwords. No grammatical information for terms is presented in the English>Nordic section except to distinguish homonyms.

Explanatory articles

Approximately one quarter of the headwords have also been furnished with explanatory articles. They are intended to provide concise supplementary information about the legal concept the term represents, and readers are encouraged to consult the bibliographic references for more detailed analysis. Articles were composed by the LMNL editors with assistance and commentary of external experts. Article content varies in scope depending on the amount of identified scholarship on the term. Certain articles offer brief explanations of the contexts in which a term is found (e.g. ON halsbók), while others (e.g. OSw sökia) give a preliminary semantic analysis. Still others (e.g. OSw laghmaþer) provide historical or comparative background relating to the term as it is used across regions and time periods.

English equivalents

English equivalents are taken more or less directly from published or draft translations without exclusion. In some cases English synonyms have been employed by individual translators to render the same medieval word or phrase, and the parts of speech of the English will not always correspond to those of the Nordic originals. Likewise an English equivalent may be applied to multiple Nordic terms. The editors have elected to leave the majority of these as an accumulation of equivalents in alphabetical order to illustrate the (at times extensive) semantic range of the legal terms (cf. OSw fæ and OSw sak), and therefore the editors have made minimal attempts to evaluate the choices of the translators. In a few rare cases (e.g. OSw agnabaker) the draft translations currently have no English equivalent, and the medieval term is here given within {}.

Phrases/expressions/combinations

Phrases throughout the LMNL have been excerpted at the discretion of the editors with no bound set of criteria beyond legal relevance. Most phrases presented here are set phrases with a technical legal definition or idioms with a meaning specific to legal contexts. Phrases are not a primary focus of LMNL, and those given represent only a selection of possible legal expressions present in the medieval laws. English equivalents and textual references for phrases are presented in the same manner as for individual headwords.

Textual references

Textual references are given for each English equivalent, most of which have been taken verbatim from published or draft translations. Textual references listed beside the equivalents for each headword are intended to be illustrative rather than comprehensive. These textual references have been divided by language grouping; OSw for laws written in Old Swedish, ODan for Old Danish, OFar for Old Faroese, OGu for Old Gutnish, OIce for Old Icelandic and ONorw for Old Norwegian. These are further divided by text and section or chapter number (see abbreviations below). Terms which appear frequently within one or more laws and have a common English equivalent (e.g. OSw bonde ‘householder’) often give only the abbreviation for the work in which the term appears.

References

A list of references to published works discussing the headword. In most cases author or editor name and year are given and are keyed to the bibliography.

English>Nordic section

The English>Nordic section of the LMNL is a mirror of the Nordic>English section. It is intended as a limited index to give users an overview of the range of medieval terms covered by an individual English equivalent. For instance, the English equivalent ‘fine’ could represent ON áfang, OGu alagh and OSw bot as well as several similar terms.

Appendices and bibliography

Six appendices have been supplied by the editors to provide information about groups of terms clustering around general medieval Nordic legal concepts. They are intended to give a more meaningful description of the terms together than would be allowed by articles distributed throughout the lexicon. These appendices cover:

Appendix A: Administrative and judicial divisions
Appendix B: Agriculture and forestry
Appendix C: Borders, boundaries and boundary markers
Appendix D: Currency and weights & measures
Appendix E: Kinship
Appendix F: Calendar of Church Feast and Fast Days

A bibliography has also been appended. It is intended to serve as a selective list of primary and secondary works treating the legal texts covered by the LMNL. An emphasis has been placed on recent titles to demonstrate how research has progressed since the publication of the Kulturhistorisk leksikon. Many of the works cited are those which informed the explanatory articles throughout the LMNL.

Abbreviations

Many abbreviations for individual sections or books in the laws, particularly Swedish laws, refer to accepted modern titles rather than to the medieval ones, which were often lacking. For example, the abbreviation Rb stands for Sw Rättegångsbalken, rather than OSw þingmalabalker (‘Book Concerning The Legal Process’ in English).

Cited sources

BjR		The law for trading places and towns (Sw Bjärköarätten)
BorgL		The Borgarthing Law (Norw Borgartingsloven)
DL		The Dala Law (Sw Dalalagen, often called Äldre Västmannalagen (ÄVmL) ‘The Older Västmanna Law’)
	Bb	The book concerning building and community (Sw Byggningabalken, OSw bygningabalker)
	Eb	The book concerning the King’s oath (Sw Edsöresbalken, OSw kunungs eþsöre)
	Gb	The book concerning matrimony (Sw Giftermålsbalken, OSw giptninga balker)
	Kkb	The book concerning Christian law (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw kristnubalker)
	Mb	The book concerning personal and property rights (Sw Manhelgdsbalken, OSw manhælghisbalker)
	Rb	The book concerning the legal process (Sw Rättegångsbalken, OSw þingbalker)
	Tjdb	The book concerning theft (Sw Tjuvnadsbalken, OSw um þiufnaþ)
EidsL		The Eidsivathing Law (Norw Eidsivatingsloven)
ESjL		Erik’s Law of Zealand (Dan Eriks sjællandske lov)
FrL		The Frostathing Law (Norw Frostatingsloven)
	ArbA	The first book concerning inheritance (Norw Den fyrste arvebolken)
	ArbB	The second book concerning inheritance (Norw Den andre arvebolken)
	Bvb	The book concerning offences and oaths (Norw Brotsverksbolken)
	Intr	Introduction (Norw Innleiing)
	Jkb	The book concerning land purchase (Norw Jordkaupebolken)
	KrbA	The first book concerning Church Law (Norw Den fyrste kristendomsbolken)
	KrbB	The second book concerning Church Law (Norw Den andre kristendomsbolken)
	Kvb	The book concerning women (Norw Kvinnebolken)
	Leb	The book concerning the naval levy (Norw Leidangsbolken)
	LlbA	The first book concerning tenancy (Norw Den fyrste landsleigebolken)
	LlbB	The second book concerning tenancy (Norw Den andre landsleigebolken)
	Mhb	On inviolability of the person (Norw Mannhelgebolken)
	R	Amendments (Norw Rettarbøter)
	Rgb	The book concerning the legal process (Norw Rettargangsbolken)
	Sab	The book concerning wergild (Norw Sakøyrebolken)
	Tfb	The book concerning summons to a thing assembly (Norw Tingfarebolken)
	Var	A book on various topics/miscellaneous matters (Norw Bolk om ymse emne)
GL		The Law of the Gotlanders (Sw Gutalagen)
Grg		‘The Grey Goose’ Laws of the Icelandic Commonwealth (ON Grágás)
	Arþ	Inheritance section (ON Arfa þáttr)
	Bat	The wergild ring list (ON Baugatal)
	Feþ	Betrothals section (ON Festa þáttr)
	Fjl	On hire of property (ON Um fjárleigur)
	Hrs	On commune obligations (ON Um hreppaskil)
	Klb	Christian Laws section (ON Kristinna laga þáttr)
	Lbþ	Land claims section (ON Landbrigða þáttr)
	Lrþ	The Law Council section (ON Lögréttu þáttr)
	Lsþ	The Lawspeaker’s section (ON Lögsögumanns þáttr)
	Misc	‘Miscellaneous articles’
	Ómb	Dependents section (ON Ómaga bálkr)
	Rsþ	Searches section (ON Rannsókna þáttr)
	Tíg	On tithe payment (ON Um tíundargjald)
	Vís	Treatment of homicide (ON Vígslóði)
	Þsþ	Assembly procedures section (ON Þingskapa þáttr)
GS		The Saga of the Gotlanders (Sw Gutasagan)
GuL		The Gulathing Law (Norw Gulatingsloven)
	Arb	The book concerning inheritance (Norw Arvebolken)
	Kpb	The book concerning trade (Norw Kjøpebolken)
	Krb	The Church Law (Norw Kristendomsbolken, Kristenretten)
	Kvb	The book concerning matrimony (Norw Kvinnebortgiftingsbolken)
	Kvr	The rules about whaling (Norw Kvalretten)
	Leb	The book concerning the naval levy (Norw Leidangsbolken)
	Llb	The book concerning tenancy (Norw Landsleigebolken)
	Løb	The book concerning freedmen (Norw Løysingsbolken)
	Mhb	On inviolability of the person (Norw Mannhelgebolken)
	Reb	Amendments (Norw Rettarbøter)
	Sab	The book concerning wergild (Norw Bjarne Mårssons saktal)
	Tfb	The book concerning summons to a thing assembly (Norw Tingfarebolken)
	Tjb	The book concerning theft (Norw Tjuvebolken)
	Trm	The Peace Pledge (Norw Trygdemålet)
	Olb	The book concerning redemption of odal land (Norw Odelsløysingsbolken)
HL		The Law of the Hälsingar (Sw Hälsingelagen)
	Blb	The book concerning building and community (Sw Byalagsbalken, OSw viþerbobalker)
	För	Praefatio (Sw Förord, OSw ‘Praefatio’)
	Jb	The book concerning land (Sw Jordabalken, OSw jorþarbalker)
	Kgb	The King’s book (Sw Konungabalken, OSw kunungsbalker)
	Kkb	The book concerning Church and Christian Law (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw kirkiubalker)
	Kmb	The book concerning trade (Sw Köpmålabalken, OSw köpmalabalker)
	Mb	The book concerning personal and property rights (Sw Manhelgdsbalken, OSw manhælghisbalker)
	Rb	The book concerning legal process (Sw Rättegångsbalken, OSw þingmalabalker)
	Äb	The book concerning inheritance (Sw Ärvdabalken, OSw ærfþarbalker)
Jó		‘Jón’s Book’ The Laws of Later Iceland (1280) (ON Jónsbók)
	Fml	Maritime law (ON Farmannalög)
	HT	Of the Holy Faith (ON Um helga trú)
	Kab	Trade (ON Kaupabálkr)
	Kge	Marriage and inheritance (ON Kvenna giptingar með erfðum (includes Framfærslubálkr (Maintenance of dependents))
	Lbb	Land claims (ON Landsbrigðabálkr)
	Llb	Tenancy (ON Landsleigubálkr (includes Rekabálkr (Drift rights))
	MagBref	Letter of King Magnús (ON bréf Magnúss konungs)
	Mah	Personal rights (ON Mannhelgi)
	Sg	Payment of tax (ON Um skatt greizlu)
	Þfb	Assembly attendance (ON Þingfararbálkr)
	Þjb	Theft (ON Þjófabálkr)
Js		‘Ironside’ The National Law of Iceland issued in 1271 by King Magnús Lagabætir of Norway (ON Járnsíða)
	Ert	The inheritance list (ON Erfðatal)
	Kab	Trade section (ON Kaupabálkr)
	Kdb	Christianity section (ON Kristindómsbálkr)
	Kvg	Marriages (ON Kvennagiftingar)
	Lbb	Land-claims section (ON Landabrigðabálkur)
	Mah	Personal rights (ON Mannhelgi)
	Rkb	Drift rights section (ON Rekabálkur)
	Þfb	Assembly procedures section (ON Þingfararbálkur)
	Þjb	Theft section (ON Þjófabálkur)
JyL		The Law of Jutland (Dan Jyske lov)
KRA		The Church Law of Árni Þorláksson (1275) (ON Kristinréttr Árna Þorlákssonar Skálholtsbiskups)
MLL		Magnus the Lawmender's Law of the Land (1274) (ON Magnus lagabætirs landslag)
	Pro	Prologue (ON Prologus)
	Þfb	Chapter on travelling to the assembly (ON Þingfararbölkr)
	Kdb	Chapter on Christianity (ON Kristindómsbölkr)
	Lvb	Chapter on defense of the land (ON Kristindómsbölkr)
	Mah	Section on personal rights (ON Mannhelgabölkr)
	Ert	Inheritance list (ON Erfðatal)
	Lb	Land claims (ON Landabrigði)
	Llb	Chapter on tenancy (ON Landsleigubölkr)
	Kab	Chapter on trade (ON Kaupabölkr)
	Þjb	Chapter on thieves (ON Þjófabölkur)
	Rb	Amendments (ON Réttarbætr)
SdmL		The Law of the Södermän (Sw Södermannalagen)
	Bb	The village community section (Sw Byggningabalken, OSw bygningabalker)
	Conf	Confirmatio (Sw Konung Magnus Erikssons stadfästelse, OSw ‘Confirmatio Regis Magni’)
	För	Prologus (Sw Förord, OSw ‘Prologus’)
	Gb	The marriage section (Sw Giftermålsbalken, OSw giptninga balker)
	Jb	The land section (Sw Jordabalken, OSw jorþarbalker)
	Kgb	The King’s section (Sw Konungabalken, OSw kunungsbalker)
	Kkb	The Church section (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw kirkiubalker)
	Kmb	The trade section (Sw Köpmålabalken, OSw köpmalabalker)
	Mb	The personal security section (Sw Manhelgdsbalken, OSw manhælghisbalker)
	Rb	The assembly procedure section (Sw Rättegångsbalken, OSw þingmalabalker)
	Till	Additamenta (Sw Tillägg, OSw ‘Additamenta’)
	Tjdb	The theft section (Sw Tjuvnadsbalken, OSw þiufnaþabalker)
	Äb	The Inheritance section (Sw Ärvdabalken, OSw ærfþarbalker)
Seyð		The Sheep Letter (1298) (OFar Seyðabrævið)
SkBL		The Town Law of Scania (Dan Skånske bylov, Sw Skånska stadsrätten)
SkKL		The Church Law of Scania (Dan Skånske kirkelov, Sw Skånska kyrkrätten)
SkL		The Law of Scania (Dan Skånske lov, Sw Skånelagen)
SmL		The Småland Law (Sw Smålandslagen or Tiohärads lag)
UL		The Law of Uppland (Sw Upplandslagen)
	Add	Supplements (OSw ‘Additamenta’)
	Blb	The village community book (Sw Byalagsbalken, OSw Wiþærbo balkær)
	För	Foreword (Sw Förord OSw ‘Praefatio’)
	Jb	The land book (Sw Jordabalken, OSw Jorþæ balkær)
	Kgb	The King’s book (Sw Konungabalken, OSw Kununx balkær)
	Kkb	The Christian book (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw Kirkiu balkær)
	Kmb	The trading book (Sw Köpmålabalken, OSw Kiöpmalæ balkær)
	Mb	The personal security book (Sw Manhelgdsbalken, OSw Manhælghis balkær)
	Rb	The legal process book (Sw Rättegångsbalken, OSw Þingmalæ balkær)
	StfBM	King Birger Magnusson’s Charter of Ratification (Sw Konung Birger Magnussons stadfästelsebrev, OSw ‘Confirmatio’)
	Äb	The inheritance book (Sw Ärvdabalken OSw Ærfþæ balkær)
VgL		The Laws of the Västgötar (Sw Västgötalagen)
VmL		The Law of Västmanland (Sw Västmannalagen)
	Bb	The settlement book (OSw Bygninga balkær)
	För	Foreword (Sw Förord, OSw ‘Praefatio’)
	Jb	The land book (Sw Jordabalken, OSw Jorþa balkær)
	Kgb	The King’s book (Sw Konungabalken, OSw Konongs balkær)
	Kkb	The Christian book (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw Kristno balkær)
	Kmb	The trading book (Sw Köpmålabalken, OSw Köpmala balkær)
	Mb	The personal security book (Sw Manhelgdsbalken, OSw Manhælghis balkær)
	Rb	The legal process book (Sw Rättegångsbalken, OSw Þingmala balkær)
	Äb	The inheritance book (Sw Ärvdabalken, OSw Ærfda balkær)
VSjL		Valdemar’s Law of Zealand (Dan Valdemars sjællandske lov)
YVgL		The Younger Västgöta Law (Sw Yngre Västgötalagen)
	Add	Additamenta (Sw Tillägg, OSw ‘Additamenta’)
	Drb	The Book about Manslaughter (Sw Dråparebalken, OSw draparibalker)
	Frb	The Book about Peace (Sw Fredsbalken, OSw friþbalker)
	Föb	The Book about Illegal Appropriation (Sw Förnämesbalken, OSw fornæmisbalker)
	Gb	The Book about Matrimony (Sw Giftermålsbalken, OSw giptarbalker)
	Jb	The Book about Land (Sw Jordabalken, OSw jorþarbalker)
	Kkb	The Book about the Church (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw kirkiubalker)
	Kvab	The Book about Mills (Sw: Kvarnbalken, OSw mylnobolker)
	Rlb	The Book about Lawlessness (Sw Rättlösabalken, OSw rætlosubolker)
	Tb	The Book about Theft (Sw Tjuvabalken, OSw þiuvabalker)
	Urb	Non-Compensable Crimes (Sw Urbotamål, OSw urbotamal)
	Utgb	The Book about Fences (Sw Utgärdabalken, OSw utgærþabolker)
	Vs	The Book about Accidental Wounding (Sw Balken om vådasår, OSw af vaþasarum bolker)
	Äb	The Book about Inheritance (Sw Ärvdabalken, OSw arvabolker)
ÄVgL		The Older Västgöta Law (Sw Äldre Västgötalagen)
	Föb	The Book of Illegal Appropriation (Sw Förnämesbalken, OSw fornæmisbalker)
	Fös	Cases of Illegal Appropriation (Sw Förnämessaker, OSw fornæmissakir)
	Gb	The Book about Matrimony (Sw Giftermålsbalken, OSw giptarbalker)
	Jb	The Book about Land (Sw Jordabalken, OSw jorþarbalker)
	Kkb	The Book about the Church (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw kirkiubalker)
	Kva	How a Mill Shall Be Built (Sw Huru kvarn skall byggas, OSw huru mylnu skal göra)
	Lek	About a Player's Rights (Sw Lekarerätten, OSw lekararætter)
	Md	About Manslaughter (Sw Om mandråp, OSw af mandrapi)
	Rlb	The Book about Lawlessness (Sw Rättlösabalken, OSw rætlosubolker)
	Slb	This is about Fighting (Sw Slagsmålsbalken, OSw bardagha)
	Smb	This is the Book about Wounding (Sw Balken om såramål, OSw af saramalum bolker)
	Tb	The Book about Theft (Sw Tjuvabalken, OSw þiuvabalker)
	Urb	Non-Compensable Crimes (Sw Urbotamål, OSw urbotamal)
	Vs	About Accidental Wounds (Sw Om vådasår, OSw af vaþasarum)
	Äb	The Book about Inheritance (Sw Ärvdabalken, OSw ærfþarbalker)
ÖgL		The Law of the Östgötar (Sw Östgötalagen)
	Bb	The book of settlement (Sw Byggningabalken, OSw bygdabalker)
	Db	The book of killings (Sw Dråpsbalken, OSw drapabalker)
	Eb	The king’s sworn peace (Sw Edsöresbalken, OSw kunungs eþsöre)
	Gb	The book of matrimony (Sw Giftermålsbalken, OSw giptabalker)
	Jb	The book of land (Sw Jordabalken, OSw eghnasala)
	Kkb	The church book (Sw Kyrkobalken, OSw kristnubalker)
	Kmb	The book of trade (Sw Köpmålabalken, OSw uinsorþabalker)
	Rb	The book of court (Sw Rättegångsbalken, OSw ræfstabalker)
	Vm	Cases of accidents and cases of wounds, adultery, rapine and theft (Sw Vådamålsbalken, OSw vaþamal ok saramal, hor, ran ok styld)
	Äb	The book of inheritance (Sw Ärvdabalken, OSw ærfþabalker)

Other Abbreviations

ASun	Liber legis Scaniae Dan: Anders Sunesens parafrase af Skånske Lov
Bj	The law for trading places and towns ON: Bjarkeyjarréttr
Dan	Danish
Norw	Norwegian
ODan	Old Danish
OFar	Old Faroese
OGu	Old Gutnish
OIce	Old Icelandic
ON	Old Norse
ONorw	Old Norwegian
OSw	Old Swedish
SjKL	The Church Law for Zealand Dan: Sjællandske kirkelov
Sw	Swedish
VSjL yr	King Valdemar’s Younger Law for Zealand Dan: Valdemars sjællandske lov
VSjL ær	King Valdemar’s Older Law for Zealand Dan: Valdemars sjællandske lov
VSt	The Town Law of Visby Sw: Visby stadslag

Further notes

A note on English spelling: All English equivalents of Nordic terms drawn from published and draft translations have been normalized to reflect British spelling conventions, regardless of how they appear in their source. An attempt has been made to standardize language usage and style throughout this work, but various portions have been compiled by multiple authors and reflect their individual preferences.

Medieval Swedish law codes are often referred to by the accepted groupings of Göta laws (Smålandslagen, Yngre Västgötalagen, Äldre Västgötalagen, Östgötalagen, ) and Svea laws (Dalalagen, Hälsingelagen, Södermannalagen, Upplandslagen, Västmannalagen).

Alphabetical order of the headwords generally follows the principles of the Dictionary of Old Norse Prose:

a, á, b, c, d, ð, e, é, f, g, h, i, í, j, k, l, m, n, o, ó, p, q, r, s, t, u, ú, v, x, y, ý, z, þ, æ, ö, ø, ǿ

Research group

Principal investigators

Inger Larsson, professor em., Swedish language, Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism, Stockholm University.

Stefan Brink, Sixth Century Professor of and Chair in Scandinavian Studies at University of Aberdeen.

Editors

Ulrika Djärv, PhD in Scandinavian Languages, Lexicography, Stockholm University. Postdoctoral position at Department of Scandinavian Languages, Stockholm University.

Jeffrey S. Love, PhD in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Postdoctoral position at The Arnamagnæan Institute. Institute for Nordic Research, University of Copenhagen.

Christine Peel, PhD in Scandinavian Studies (Old Gutnish), University College London. LMNL Computer recording system advisor.

Erik Simensen, associate professor (em.), Nordic languages, esp. Norwegian, Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, University of Oslo. Chief editor of Norrøn ordbok [Dictionary of Old Norse], latest edition published in 2008.

Historical consultant

Thomas Lindkvist, professor em., medievalist, Department of Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg.