Wigheard

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. An Old English masculine given name, meaning roughly war-hardy, borne by several figures from early medieval England
2. A masculine personal name from Anglo-Saxon England, formed from elements meaning battle and hardy or brave
3. An early English male forename of Old English origin, carried by a few historical churchmen of the Anglo-Saxon period

Etymology: Its second part, "heard," has nothing to do with the modern past tense of "hear." In Old English, "heard" meant "hard" in the sense of hardy, strong, or resolute, and it is related to the modern word "hard." Paired with "wig," meaning war or battle, the compound described a person who was hardened for fighting. Its sense was martial courage, not sex or gender, so the "male" gloss in the brief doesn't match the word's recorded use. The word survives only in Old English texts and in modern scholarly glossaries. It is attested in poetry and prose, where it is applied to warriors and fighting men. Because "wig" also appears in other Old English compounds for war, the element is familiar to students of the language, even though this particular compound is rare.