Etymology

Always derived from ON, cp. OIcel hregg 'storm, strong wind'. The etymology of the ON n. is obscure, though some connection with the root of PGmc *xrīþō 'tempest, storm', which occurs as OIcel hríð and OE hrīð, is sometimes supposed (see further Mag. and de Vries with references).

PGmc Ancestor

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

hregg 'storm, strong wind'
(ONP hregg (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far reiggj, Icel hregg

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

B1c

Attestation

Only attested in Cl in ME; EDD only cites the MnE dial word from Che., but OED3 also has citations from We and Ir contexts.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 354, 382

Bibliography

MED rig(e (n.) , OED3 rigg (n.1) , HTOED , EDD rig(g (sb.2), de Vries hregg, Mag. hregg, Orel *xrīþo