gersom

Middle English

Alternative forms

• garesome, garisoumme, garsum, gerssum, gersum, gersume, gersumme, gyrssyn
• gærsum, garsume (Early Middle English)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English gærsum, gersum, gærsuma, from Old Norse gersemi, gørsemi (“treasure”), from gerr, gǫrr (“ready”) +‎ -semi (“-ness”), with the ending assimilated to native -sum. Compare garisoun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡarsum(ə)/, /ˈɡɛrsum(ə)/

Noun

gersom (plural gersoms)

1. Riches, treasure, or a gift of such.
2. (specifically) A rent paid to one's manorial lord.

Descendants

• English: gersum, grassum
• Scots: grassum (obsolete)

References

• “gersum(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.