"The Deorhord" is as entertaining as it is informative. @hanavideen.bsky.social brings life to the stories behind the words in a way that is a true delight to read. I very much recommend it to all philologists, etymologists, "word nerds," and of course, natural history enthusiasts. #Booksky

@bookshop.org are you ever coming to Canada because I would love to do this…

No idea why this is the first AI follow-up question that comes up for this post. My book contains no toucans. If you want to read THE DEORHORD (which does discuss other ornithological wonders like phoenixes and flaming chickens), you can find it here: oldenglishwordhord.com/deorhord-book/

dēoren, adj: of or like a wild animal. (DAY-o-ren / ˈdeːɔ-rɛn) It’s #WorldAnimalDay (Dēores Dæg…sounds better in Old English). Learn about medieval animals in THE DEORHORD: AN OLD ENGLISH BESTIARY: buff.ly/l4Lbsip #OldEnglish #WOTD #TheDeorhord @profilebooks.bsky.social @princetonupress.bsky.social

Also now available for 70% off from @princetonupress.bsky.social are @hanavideen.bsky.social's books Word Hord and Deor Hord

New book arrived!! @hanavideen.bsky.social @oewordhord.bsky.social

An entertaining tour of Old English words for animals, from the author of The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English. @hanavideen.bsky.social's The Deorhord is now available in #paperback in the United States and Canada! Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb... #English #OldEnglish #Language

lēof-spell, n.n: a pleasant message. (LAY-off-SPELL / ˈleːɔf-ˌspɛl) The US/Canada paperback DEORHORD is out today! (The UK edition is already out in the rest of the world.) See where to get it here: buff.ly/l4Lbsip #OldEnglish #WOTD #TheDeorhord @princetonupress.bsky.social

Thank you to @hanavideen.bsky.social of ‘The Deor Hord’ and @oewordhord.bsky.social fame for reviewing my next book, LITTLE KINGDOMS (releasing 30/11/25) ‘Dispels the myth of [easy] ethnicity or nationality [terms]. Instead, Harvey breathes life into a sweeping miscellany of little kingdoms.‘

Very excited to have an advance copy of @princetonupress.bsky.social's paperback THE DEORHORD: AN OLD ENGLISH BESTIARY on my shelf! Available September 16: preorder the US/Canada publication from PUP: buff.ly/OJUqlpB #TheDeorhord #OldEnglish #MedievalBeasties

Whoever came up with the word podiatrist really missed a trick by not going with doctopus.

And I would be a fool to not mention @hanavideen.bsky.social’s ‘The Deor Hord’ (+ ‘The Word Hord’). A different subject to mine, sure, but the structure and playful attitude taught me much on how to approach complex subjects for the general reader - visually, the art of this book was a huge inspo

www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Little-Kingd... LITTLE KINGDOMS: AN A-Z OF EARLY MEDIEVAL BRITAIN, my next book, releases on the 30th of November 2025 As of today it is now available for preorder, at a discounted early price of £20 (RRP £25) Why should you pick up this book...? 🧵

We're in the Apps We Love list on the App Store in Europe this week! This is the first time Wordhord has been in any list on the App Store. I feel honoured to be alongside other amazing indie apps like @mercuryweather.app and @lookup-app.bsky.social

I launched Wordhord v2.0 today and noticed this review while I was in App Store Connect. If you want an app to cheer you up, check it out (it's free). Learn an Old English word every day in an app with a unique medieval style. apps.apple.com/ca/app/old-e... #iOSDev #OldEnglish #MedievalSky

The Old English Wordhord version 2.0 is available today on the App Store! New features include: - Share Old English words - Old English date widgets - Dark mode icon As always the app is free so check it out! apps.apple.com/ca/app/old-e... #OldEnglish #Medieval #MedievalSky

dēop, adj: deep, extending downwards; describing the extreme of range (of understanding, thought, doctrine, oaths, etc.), profound, complete. (DAY-op / ˈdeːɔp) Image: Bestiaire of Guillaume le Clerc; France, late 13th century; @labnf.bsky.social fr. 14964, f. 150v. #OldEnglish #WOTD

fȳrene, adj: fiery, flaming with fire, fireproducing. (FUE-reh-nuh / ˈfyː-rɛ-nə) Image: Livre des propriétés des choses; France (Toulouse), c. 1350; Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Ms. 1029, f. 248r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

for-swelgan, str.v: to swallow (something/someone) entirely, devour (something/someone) utterly. (for-SWELL-gahn / fɔr-ˈswɛl-gan) Image: Ormesby Psalter; England (East Anglia), 1250-1330; @bodleianlibraries.bsky.social MS. Douce 366, f. 71v. #OldEnglish #WOTD

lox, m.n: lynx. (LOCKS / ˈlɔks) Image: Lynx in a bestiary; England, c. 1170; @britishlibrary.bsky.social Add MS 11283, f. 3v. #OldEnglish #WOTD

So I'm curious... I know this image from the De Brailes Psalter represents Gemini, but why are the twins holding a pizza? What is that supposed to be? (New College, Oxford, MS 322, f. 3r) #MedievalSky

smēagan, wk.v: to consider, ponder, examine, search, seek an opportunity. (SMAY-ah-gahn / ˈsmeːa-gan) #OldEnglish #WOTD

bēag-wīse, f.n: circular shape. (BAY-ahg-WEE-zuh / ˈbeːag-ˌwiː-zə) Image: Summa theologiae of Thomas Aquinas; France, main text 13th century, doodle 14th or 15th century; Conches-en-Ouche, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 7, f. 62r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

Þancas to @rafletcher.bsky.social and @monicamedhist.bsky.social for helping me to identify this cute critter a few weeks ago.

Happy Hug A Medievalist Day!

gnyrran, wk.v: (of the teeth) to gnash, grind, chatter. (G’NUR-rahn / ˈgnyr-ran) Image: A fish known as an exposita from Jacob van Maerlant’s Der Naturen Bloeme; Flanders, c. 1350; Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, f. 105v. #OldEnglish #WOTD

How is it that I get vertigo at the same time that this word comes up when I scheduled the word a month ago?!

bōc-lēaf, n.n: the leaf of a book, a charter. (BOAK-LAY-off / ˈboːk-ˌleːaf) Image: Charter issued by Archbishop Wulfstan; England, early 11th century; @britishlibrary.bsky.social Add Ch 19795. #OldEnglish #WOTD

a-fīndan, str.v: to find, detect, feel, experience. (ah-FEEN-dahn / a-ˈfiːn-dan) Image: St Helena’s discovery of the True Cross; Jean Beleth’s Vie des Saints; France (Paris), 1325-1340; @britishlibrary.bsky.social Add MS 17275, f. 290v. #OldEnglish #WOTD

A sneak peek at a new feature coming soon to the Old English Wordhord app... @oewordhord.bsky.social

For over a decade, @hanavideen.bsky.social has been sharing an #OldEnglish word with her followers. In the latest episode of the #WordOfMouth #podcast, she chats to @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social about her work & her books: "The Word Hord" & "The Deorhord". Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

witan, str.v: to know, be aware. (WIT-ahn / ˈwɪ-tan) Image: Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux; France (Arras), 13th century; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.730, f. 10r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

So I'm not a Latinist and I really want to know what this says. Can anyone help? (It pertains to nothing, but I love the image and want to know what it is!) #Latin #medievalsky

nytan, v: to not know. (NUE-tahn / ˈny-tan) #OldEnglish #WOTD

Happy St Patrick’s Day! ☘️ Celebrate with this saint by taking a nap. 😴

Does anyone know when @britishlibrary.bsky.social is going to be able to give people access to digitized manuscripts online again? I’m missing it so much… 😢 #medievalsky

hæg-þorn, m.n: hawthorn. (HAIE-THORN / ˈhæj-ˌθɔrn) Image: Tractatus de herbis; Italy, late 13th century; @britishlibrary.bsky.social Egerton MS 747, f. 15r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

samnian, wk.v: to collect, assemble, bring together, gather. (SAHM-ni-ahn / ˈsam-nɪ-an) Image: Fables of Bidpai; S Italy, 10th or 11th century; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.397, f. 7r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

Today’s WOTD is in honour of a wonderful grandmother who passed away yesterday. She was my friend’s nan, not my own, but she was one of those people who felt like everybody’s nan. She will be greatly missed. ❤️

fell, n.n: skin, hide. (FELL / ˈfɛl) Image: Closeup of parchment from Leiden University Libraries, BPL 25 (9th century); photo by @erikkwakkel.bsky.social. #OldEnglish #WOTD

rōt, adj: glad, cheerful; noble, excellent. (ROAT / ˈroːt) #OldEnglish #WOTD

Look like it works!

stānincel, n.n: a little stone. (STAHN-IN-chell / ˈstaːn-ˌɪn-tʃɛl) Image: Gospel Book; Germany (Hildesheim), 12th century (cover); Dom-Museum Hildesheim (DS 13). #OldEnglish #WOTD

sundor-weorþmynt, f.n: a special honour, prerogative. (SUN-dor-WEH-orth-muent / ˈsʌn-dɔr-ˌwɛɔrθ-mynt) #OldEnglish #WOTD

basing, m.n: cloak, short cloak. (BA-zing / ˈba-zɪŋ) Image: St Martin of Tours; Tournai, 12th century; @britishlibrary.bsky.social Add MS 15219, f. 12r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

Heads up for anyone thinking of supporting a creator on Patreon... Apple is now charging a 30% fee for subscribing via the Patreon app. If you want to avoid the fee, subscribe via the website. (This doesn't affect existing subscribers.) See my own Patreon page at bit.ly/goldgifa #patreon

ān-rǣd, adj: one-minded, unanimous, agreed, persevering, resolute, prompt, vehement. (AHN-RAD / ˈaːn-ˌræːd) Read this month’s Mōnaþ-spell (monthly update) on Patreon: bit.ly/goldgifa #OldEnglish #WOTD

solor, m.n: upper chamber; sunny room, solarium. (SOLL-or / ˈsɔ-lɔr) #OldEnglish #WOTD

ge-frætewian, wk.v: to adorn, deck, trim. (yeh-FRAT-eh-wi-ahn / jɛ-ˈfræ-tɛ-wɪ-an) Image: William of Waddington’s Le Manuel des Péchés; Anglo-Norman, c. 1220-1240; University of Nottingham, WLC/LM/4, f. 135r. #OldEnglish #WOTD

a-swǣman, v: to wander about. (ah-SWAM-ahn / a-ˈswæː-man) #OldEnglish #WOTD