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housecarl

American

[hous-kahrl] / ˈhaʊsˌkɑrl /

noun

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

housecarl British

/ ˈhaʊsˌkɑːl /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of housecarl

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Matter of ten or twelve miles, lord," said the housecarl.

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

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)

"That, I take it, is a hint that you might like to be a housecarl of the king's," he said.

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

"Radbard Grimsson of Grimsby, housecarl just now to this King of Lindsey."

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

I was not yet wanted by Eglaf for any housecarl duty.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023