heimalingur
Icelandic
editEtymology
editA very common folk etymology re-interpretation of the word heimalningur (heim (“home”) + ala (“feed, nourish”)), here interpreted as heima (“at home”) plus the diminutive -lingur.
Noun
editheimalingur m
- Alternative spelling of heimalningur (“a home-fed lamb”)
Usage notes
editHeimalningur is the only variant listed in dictionaries, however "heimalingur" is how the majority of people interpret this word and it is commonly seen in writing, having been in use since at least 1927.[1]
References
edit- ^ “Þar sprakk blaðran”, in Ísland, 11 edition, 1927, page 2: “Morgunblaðið er eins og heimalingur hjá Jónasi á Hriflu, sem sötrar einokunargutlið úr sömu fötunni og Jónas frá Hriflu og hans nánustu.”