væþ (OSw) væth (ODan) veþ (OGu) veð (ON) vaþ (OSw) noun

The most common word for ‘pledge’, i.e. something deposited as security for a payment or the fulfilment of an obligation. A væþ could consist of movables or fixed property and be worth more or less than the claim. If it consisted of fixed property, primarily land, the creditor could use it until the maturity of the obligation, and keep the yield, which can be seen as a means of negotiating the church’s prohibition against interest. The væþ became the property of the creditor if the debtor did not fulfil the obligation, and thus allowed the circumvention of restrictions concerning land sales, although often with the prospect of a repurchase within a stipulated time. The væþ was presumably made public, and, in OSw, should be witnessed by fastar (q.v.) or at the þing ‘assembly’ or church, and could be subject to certain procedures otherwise used at sales (umfærþ, q.v.). Also specifically a stake ventured by disputing parties, and sometimes handed over to an impartial taki (q.v.) before or after a search, seizure, trial etc. The latter case, when for instance a judgement or a statement by a syn (q.v.) or næmd (q.v.) was challenged, can be seen as an appeal, that is the væþ could refer both to the appeal itself in a legal case, as well as to the deposit put down to pursue the appeal. When the dispute had been settled, the winner received the væþ of both parties.

appeal OSw DL Rb
OSw HL Rb
OSw UL Blb
OSw VmL Bb
bond OSw VmL Kkb
lien OIce Jó Kge 13
mortgage OSw ÄVgL Gb
OSw YVgL Gb
pawn ODan JyL 2
OSw ÄVgL Jb
OSw KrL Kmb
OSw MEL Kmb
OSw MESt Kmb
pledge ODan ESjL 2
ODan JyL 2, 3
ODan SkBL
ODan SkL 84, 179, 182, 183, 192
ODan VSjL 85
OGu GL A 26
OIce Grg Lbþ 192, 193
OIce Jó Lbb 8, 11 Llb 34 Kab 16
OIce Js Mah 13, 20 Ert 19 Lbb 6, 8 Kab 11, 17
ONorw BorgL 12.15
ONorw GuL Kpb, Arb
OSw DL Bb, Tjdb
OSw HL Jb
OSw MEL Kmb
OSw MESt Kmb
OSw ÖgL Bb
OSw UL Mb
OSw VmL Rb
OSw YVgL Jb
redemption OSw UL Blb
security ODan SkL 168
ONorw FrL ArbB 28
OSw KrL Bb
OSw MEL Bb
surety OGu GL A 30
OSw ÖgL Jb
OSw UL Kmb
OSw VmL Kmb
wager OSw HL Mb
OSw SdmL Bb, Kmb, Tjdb, Till Refs:

KLNM s.v.v. dómr, pant, rettergang, veddemål; Peel 2015, 167 note to 30/2−4; Schlyter s.v. væþ