Page:An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland Part I.pdf/114

CVI meaning, : “lacking confidence, without anyone or anything to rely upon." Nor does “tråƫəlȯs” agree well phonetically with “traustlauss”. Notwithstanding phonetic difficulties, the most reasonable explanation seems to be “*trygðalauss”, faithless, unreliable, from trygðar, trygðir,, safe conditions. This definition suits logically, and is the expression to be expected. “*trygðalauss” would normally have become *, *, in Shetland Norn, but the preceding line gives the combination  [tråt ᶊə], which may quite probably have influenced the sound of a following *, changing the word by assimilation to  and . Moreover, a development ð > d > t is not without parallel in Shetland Norn.

Having regard to this definition, may be a “‘yon’ (hon?) er svá trygðalaus”, she (she there) is so faithless, in which case, the words contain the crab’s opinion of the crow, and constitute the reason for her refusing the invitation.

. A riddle from Unst, noted down by John Irvine in Lerwick, dictated by an Unst-man. Comparatively well preserved.

førə stad əpo skø̄, twa vɩstrə vegəbi and en comes atə drɩᶅandɩ.

The original form is probably:

fjórir standa upp á ský, (tveir) vísa veg í bý (ok) einn (kemr) aptan drallandi.

(Solution: the cow — four teats, four legs; ears and horns: four; two eyes, one tail.)

Gest the Blind’s riddle about the cow (in Hervarar Saga):

Fjórir ganga, fjórir hanga, tveir veg vísa, tveir hundum verja, einn eptir drallar ok optast óhreinn.

From Fetlar comes a corrupted variant of the above-mentioned riddle from Unst.

twa vegəbi, four hɔŋga, four gɔŋga, etom ȯita drȯita.