Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In Anglo-Saxon history, the military array or land force of the whole nation, comprising all males able to bear arms: a force resembling the German landwehr.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Old. Eng. Hist.) The military force of the whole nation, consisting of all men able to bear arms.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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In England it is the descendant of the old Saxon "fyrd," under which each area had to produce its quota of men, to be responsible for arming them and carrying out training annually.
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English "fyrd," or militia, was the nation in arms.
Freedom In Service Six Essays on Matters Concerning Britain's Safety and Good Government 1907
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What they weren't told was they'd have to nick all the beer after beating up some other bloke called 'fyrd'.
Army Rumour Service 2010
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What they weren't told was they'd have to nick all the beer after beating up some other bloke called 'fyrd'.
Army Rumour Service 2010
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"fyrd," which they used as a counterpoise to the feudal levy.
Freedom In Service Six Essays on Matters Concerning Britain's Safety and Good Government 1907
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One of the problems Alfred had was that although he could call up considerable numbers of the fyrd (militia), they were part-timers with other important things to do (like growing food), whereas the Vikings were more of a self-selected group of young adventurers with military skills and no other calls on their time.
Early medieval armies: numbers Carla 2010
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Cos if tehy fyrd u ai waz gonna com ober an….. wel u noe.
I can’t believe - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2010
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Whereas the English in 1066 had the tradition of the fyrd.
Cadafael, King of Gwynedd Carla 2009
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I am sure the fyrd turned up with whatever they had that could do damage to an enemy, and anyone who could shoot for the pot would surely not have wasted that skill.
Bowmen in medieval Wales Carla 2009
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Many of the Norman infantry were killed in the charge up the hill, as the fyrd through javelins, stones and anything they could find.
The Normans, Part 1 de Brantigny........................ 2008
fbharjo commented on the word fyrd
resembles a landwehr?
February 25, 2012
qms commented on the word fyrd
Other sources provide three ways to pronounce fyrd:
1. As a homophone for "feared."
2. To rhyme with "third."
3. To rhyme with "ride."
The most frequently suggested is the last of these.
February 25, 2015
ruzuzu commented on the word fyrd
Ready, aim... fyrd.
February 25, 2015
qms commented on the word fyrd
When Norsemen roll in with the tide
A plowman must quickly decide
To fall in his field
Or refuse to yield
And fight in the ranks of the fyrd.
February 25, 2015