kvöð (ON) kvaða (ON) noun

When the merits of a dispute were not known (when the claimant had no legal witnesses to his claim), the claimant proceeded with a kvaða, a formal demand for restitution, a request that his counterpart (the defendant) should follow a certain procedure in the matter. The defendant must then either comply with the request (e.g. to pay his debt) or agree to have the complaint heard and considered by a court of arbitration.

claim OIce Grg Þsþ 33
OIce Js Kab 5
ONorw FrL Rgb 4
demand ONorw GuL Kpb, Arb, Olb
Refs:

Hertzberg s.v. kvaða, kvöð; Robberstad 1981, 343