Vinland

English

Alternative forms

• Winland

Etymology

From Old Norse, coined c. AD 1000 by Leif Ericson, but of uncertain meaning because vowel length was not marked in early texts. It can therefore be either Vínland (“Wineland”) (from vín (“wine”)) or Vinland (“meadowland”) (from vin (“meadow, pasture”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvɪnlənd/, /ˈvɪnlænd/
• Rhymes: -ɪnlənd, -ɪnlænd

Proper noun

Vinland

1. The name given by the Icelandic Norseman Leifur Eiríksson to the portion of North America in modern-day Newfoundland, Canada when he arrived there circa 1000 AD.

Coordinate terms

• Markland
• Helluland
• Greenland
• Iceland

Derived terms

• Vinlandic

Translations

Norse name of Newfoundland

• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: Vinland

• Portuguese: Vinlândia f

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Old Norse, coined by Leif Erikson around 1000 AD. The first part is often believed to be vin (“meadow”), yielding Vinland, but this word had gone obsolete at the time of the coining. Another interpretation is Vínland, from vín (“wine”) +‎ land.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²viːnlan(d)/, /²vɪ(ː)nlan(d)/

Proper noun

Vinland n

1. (historical) Vinland, Winland, likely the area of modern day Newfoundland
   • 1862, Eirik M. Torvaldsson Sommer, Noregs Saga i Stuttmaal, elder Fortelning um dei største Tilburdarne med Nordmennerne og deira Tilstand i Noreg gjenom Forntidi til vaare Dagar, page 63:

     Leiv Eiriksson fann eit nytt Land, som han kallade Vinland, det var lenger sud i Amerika. Soleides er Amerika fyrst funnet av vaare Forfeder. Men Nordmennerne heldo inkje lenge Bu der; men der ligg daa ein stor Stein med Runar og andre Merke etter deim.

     Leif Erikson found a new land, which he called Winland, it was further south in America. Thus America was first found by our forefathers. But the Norsemen wouldn’t live there for long; but there is a large stone with runes and other marks after them.

2. (chiefly humorous) America

Derived terms

• vinlandsferd (“Vinland journey”)

Related terms

• vin (“wine”) or vìn (“meadow”)

See also

• Grønland (“Greenland”)
• Helleland, Helluland (“Baffin Island”)
• Markland (“Labrador”)
• skrælingar m pl (“the native population of America and Greenland”)

Old Norse

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (12th century Icelandic) IPA^(key): /ˈwinˌlɑnd/

Proper noun

Vinland n

1. Vinland