The story
- Old English · calque ofbēagġiefa
- English todayring-giver
Literary calque of Old English bēagġiefa, from bēag (“ring”) + ġiefa (“giver”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
ring-giver
Today it means: A ruler or chieftain who distributed rings or other valuable gifts to loyal warriors, thanes, or retainers as a means of rewarding service and reinforcing bonds of allegiance and mutual obligation. Full definition →
Old English bēagġiefa