Etymology
Some ON input is always called on to explain this word. (1) Some authorities take it as directly continuing an ON compound, cp. OIcel
vald-eygðr (once, of a horse), Icel
valdeygður 'with a white ring around the pupil, dull-eyed (of horses)'. The first element has been tentatively connected (so e.g. Mag.,
AEW) with PGmc
*walþ(j)ō- 'weld' (cp. ME
weld(e),
wold(e), MDu
wolde), derived from
*walþuz (cp. OIcel
vǫllr 'field', OE
weald 'forest, wood, grove', OFris
wald 'forest', OS
wald, OHG
wald). The second is best identified with
eygðr (adj.) 'having eyes of a certain kind' (as
ONP, Bj. etc.), and has apparently been replaced by its native equivalent (ME pp.
eied), although
œgðr 'terrified' has also been suggested (see
OED, Fritzner). (2) The form is, however, more likely entirely native. Other authorities instead cite OE
wealdenēage or
walden-īge 'grey-eyed, wall-eyed', apparently on the basis of <ualden
negi> in the Erfurt glossary (see BT, Sweet 1885: 110), glossing Lat
cessius,
glaucus. Cp. also earlier ME
wolden-eiʒed in
King Alisaunder. In this case, borrowing in the other direction cannot be ruled out.
Yet it is clear from
WA that there was early confusion or conflation with the originally distinct ME
wawil-eʒid (adj.), which has a closely related sense.
PGmc Ancestor
?walþ-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
(1) vald-eygðr ?'wall-eyed'
(ONP vald-eygðr (adj.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
(1) Icel valdeygður
OE Cognate
(2) walden-īge 'grey-eyed, wall-eyed'
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
D1c