gleow
The Old English word for 'joke' is gleow.
gleow refers to an amusing story.
Meaning: amusing story (noun)
Did you know?
- In Old English, the concept of a gleow was inextricably linked to music, as the root word described both playing an instrument and performing a story.
- Because gleow was associated with the professional 'gleemen', these joke-tellers were sometimes viewed with suspicion by the church for being too worldly.
- The word gleow shares a root with the word 'glee', which today means happiness but originally meant the act of playing music or performing a joke.
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting by the fire.
- OsricHlyst, Æthelflæd, iċ hæbbe gleow.Listen, Æthelflæd, I have a joke.
- ÆthelflædIċ wille þīn gleow ġehīeran.I want to hear your joke.
- OsricHit is swīþe blīþe!It is very merry!
- ÆthelflædSeġe hit nū, Osric.Tell it now, Osric.
