Etymology
(1) Almost all editors (and Bj.) read the MS as <glaum(-)>, and concur in deriving this form from the ON n. represented by OIcel
glaumr ‘merry noise’ < PGmc *
glaumaz; OE
glēam ‘joy’ is a direct cognate (recorded only once (
GenA 12; see
DOE s.v.), but there is also a handful of probable occurrences in place-names (
EPNE s.v.).), but the word is not attested elsewhere in Gmc. Gordon (§233) lists glaum as a probable OWN borrowing. The grammar of the line in
Gaw is interpreted in two alternative ways in editions: (a) TG(D) and most subsequent editors (including AW, Vant, so too McGee 332) follow Emerson (1922: 364) in taking
glaum as a n.; Emerson compares the very similar phrase
glam and gle at
Gaw 1652 (see
glam), and notices other instances of the conjunction spelt <ande> in
Pat and
Pe (and Olszewska (1937: 60–1) further compares OIcel
glaumr ok gleði). (b) Taking their lead from the absence of word division in the MS (f. 91v l. 19), however, early editions (Madden, Morris, M(G)[1] print
glaumande as a single word and identify it as a pres. ptcp.; this reading is retained in GDS (which glosses ‘noisy’). Following either explanation, this would nevertheless be the only known occurrence of an ON loan
glaum(-) in English, and such a form is not treated by either
OED or
MED. (2) On the other hand, it is perfectly possible to read the minims in the MS here differently, and to suggest that what the scribe actually wrote is <glamnande>. In that case, we might interpret it as a (minim-counting) error for *<glammande>, giving (a variant spelling of) the phrase
glam and gle exactly as at
Gaw 1652. This is therefore to identify the word at
Gaw 46 with ME
glam, which is always derived from the ON n. represented by OIcel
glamm (later
glamr) ‘noise, tinkling sound’ (of obscure ult. etymology). This theory requires emendation, then, but it has the advantage of introducing to
Gaw 46 a word-form which is attested elsewhere in ME (albeit rarely), and it has been forwarded in the most recent editions of the poem. It is the reading offered by McGillivray, who prints <glamm ande> (see his 46n), and apparently also that of PS (who print <glam and>, without discussion).
PGmc Ancestor
(1) *glaumaz; (2) ?*ga-xlam-, ?*glam
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
(1) glaumr ‘merry noise’; (2) glamm, glamr ‘noise, tinkling sound’
(ONP (1) glaumr (sb.); (2) glamm (sb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
(1) Far gleimur, Icel glaumur, Norw gløym, OSw glømber; (2) Icel glamm, Norw glam, Dan glam, OSw glam, Sw glam
OE Cognate
glēam ‘joy’
Phonological and morphological markers
ON /au/ < PGmc */au/
Summary category
D2