Etymology

First appearing in late OE, this word is always derived from the ON n. represented by OIcel vængr (m.) 'wing' (the East Norse nouns are neut.), which is otherwise only found in NGmc. Mag. connects it ult. with the PGmc v. *wējan- 'to blow' (cp. Go waian, OFris waja and e.g. OSw via).

PGmc Ancestor

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

vængr 'wing'
(ONP vǽngr (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far vongur, Icel vængur, Norw veng, ODan wingæ, Dan vinge, OSw vinge, Sw vinge

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

B1

Attestation

First appears in a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom. (Lamb 487), and then common and widespread.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Pe 93; Cl 475, 1484; WA 413, 1051, 1769 etc.

Bibliography

MED wing(e (n.) , OED wing (n.) , HTOED , HTOED , Bj. 225, de Vries vængi, Mag. vængur, Orel *wējanan-, Seebold *wǣja-