tafl

Cimbrian

Noun

tafl f

1. table
2. board
3. blackboard

References

• Umberto Patuzzi, ed., (2013) Ünsarne Börtar, Luserna: Comitato unitario delle linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse tafl (“a board”), from Middle Low German taffel, tavele, from Old Saxon tafla, from Proto-West Germanic *tabulā, from Latin tabula (“a tablet; a board or plank”). Doublet of tabla, tafla, tefla, töfl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʰapl/

  Rhymes: -apl

Noun

tafl n (genitive singular tafls, nominative plural töfl)

1. chess

   Synonyms: skák, (obsolete) skáktafl

2. (chiefly historical) any of a class of ancient Northern European two-player board games featuring a distinctive 2:1 ratio of playing pieces, with the addition of a kingpiece to the lesser side

   Synonym: hnefatafl

3. (obsolete) A general term encompassing traditional board games, including games such as hnefatafl, chess, backgammon and mill.

   Synonym: borðspil

Declension

Declension of tafl (neuter)

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	tafl	taflið	töfl	töflin
accusative	tafl	taflið	töfl	töflin
dative	tafli	taflinu	töflum	töflunum
genitive	tafls	taflsins	tafla	taflanna

Derived terms

• halatafl
• hnefatafl
• hneftafl
• kotrutafl (“backgammon”)
• skáktafl (“chess”) (obsolete)
• svik í tafli
• taflmaður
• tefla

Further reading

• “tafl” in the Dictionary of Modern Icelandic (in Icelandic) and ISLEX (in the Nordic languages)

Old Norse

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *tabulā, from Latin tabula (“a tablet; a board or plank”). Cognate with Old English tæfl (“game board; board game”).

Noun

tafl n (genitive tafls, plural tǫfl)

1. a board game

Usage notes

• Today this term is mostly used to refer to any of a class of ancient Northern European two-player board games featuring a distinctive 2:1 ratio of playing pieces, with the addition of a kingpiece to the lesser side, but in Old Norse it refers to any board game.

Derived terms

• tefla (“to play a board game”)
• halatafl
• hnefatafl
• skáktafl (“chess”)

Related terms

• tǫfl

Descendants

• Icelandic: tafl
• Faroese: talv
• Norwegian Nynorsk: tavl

Welsh

Etymology 1

Deverbal from taflu (“to throw”)

Noun

tafl m (plural taflau)

1. sling, catapult
2. catapult, trebuchet

   Synonyms: catapwlt, blif, magnel

3. throw, fling, instance of throwing

   Synonyms: tafliad, lluchiad, hyrddiad

Derived terms

• taflegryn (“missile”)

Etymology 2

Noun

tafl f or m (plural taflau)

1. Alternative form of tafol (“scales”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of tafl

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
tafl	dafl	nhafl	thafl

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “tafl”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh-English Dictionary, Gwerin
• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “tafl”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies