Definitions
Sorry, no definitions found. Check out and contribute to the discussion of this word!
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word launa lambið gráa.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
sionnach commented on the word launa lambið gráa
to get revenge
(literally: to pay back the gray lamb)
According to Wikipedia -
From the Icelanders' saga Heiðarvíga saga. In the year 1000, the man Styr had just killed the farmer Þórhalli from Jörfi who had two children; �?slaug and Gestur. His son Gestur was a weak and backward child, who was not likely to avenge his father's death; still Styr became convinced to give Gestur a grey lamb (heimalningur) to recompense for the patricide. Later however (in the year 1007-1008) Gestur sneaks up to Styr whilst he sups and slashes with an ax with full force in Styr's head. He hits behind Styr's right ear so that the brain shows and Gestur speaks; "þar launaði ég þér lambið gráa" (meaning "there I repaid you that grey lamb"), and then continues to run out the back door and locks the door.
November 24, 2008