housecarl

American  

[hous-kahrl] / ˈhaʊsˌkɑrl /

noun

1. a member of the household troops or bodyguard of a Danish or early English king or noble.

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housecarl British  

/ ˈhaʊsˌkɑːl /

noun

1. (in medieval Europe) a household warrior of Danish kings and noblemen

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Etymology

Origin of housecarl

before 1050; Middle English; late Old English hūscarl < Danish hūskarl. See house, carl

Example Sentences

The housecarl started toward it, but as he passed one of the helpless horses, he turned to that and brought me a horn from the saddlebags.

From A King's Comrade A Story of Old Hereford by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

I will only say that the life was pleasant enough, if idle, as a housecarl, and that I saw Havelok every day at one time or another, which was all that I could wish.

From Havelok the Dane A Legend of Old Grimsby and Lincoln by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

After him the thronging people closed up, and though I thought that a housecarl would have been sent to see what he was about, this would have made an open talk, and Alsi forbore.

From Havelok the Dane A Legend of Old Grimsby and Lincoln by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

"Now is East Anglia mine in truth," he said; and with that he bade the housecarl fetch Curan, the cook's porter, to him.

From Havelok the Dane A Legend of Old Grimsby and Lincoln by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

But it did not seem right to me that an atheling of Wessex should be alone, without so much as a housecarl to tend him and stand at his back at need.

From A King's Comrade A Story of Old Hereford by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)