Dec 15, 2002 19:06
21 yrs ago
English term
Excalibur
English
Art/Literary
King Arthur's sword. I am looking for the meaning and the origin of the word. Been searching through Latin dictinaries and the only hint I found was that ex- means out of/made of and calib/chaleb means steel. Made of steel is my suggestion but I am just guessing. Does anyone have any idea?
Responses
| 3 +2 | Hard lightning |
Florence Bremond
|
| 4 +2 | See explanation |
Kim Metzger
|
| 5 | hard lightning OR steel |
Paul Stevens
|
| 3 +1 | Note |
JCEC
|
| 4 | Excalibur |
Serge L
|
| 4 | cut steel |
Fernando Muela Sopeña
|
Responses
+2
4 mins
Florence Bremond
France
France
France
Art of the French language
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
Works in: English to French, French
Related KudoZ points
:
36
Selected
Hard lightning
(sorry I only find the explanation in French :
"EXCALIBUR , nom de l'épée d'ARTHUR . Le mot est une déformation de Caledfoulch ou Kaledfoulc'h ou kaletfwlch qui signifierait "dur éclair" ou "dure foudre" appellation qui conviendrait parfaitement à une épée magique"
http://keltic.johnny.free.fr/mythes/E/excalibur.htm
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:14:34 (GMT)
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\"The Name \"Excalibur\" was first used for King Arthur\'s sword by the French Romancers. It was not the famous \"Sword in the Stone\" (which broke in battle), but a second sword acquired by the King through the intercession of his druidic advisor, Merddyn (Merlin). Worried that Arthur would fall in battle, Merlin took the King to a magical lake where a mysterious hand thrust itself up from the water, holding aloft a magnificent sword. It was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magic unbreakable blade, fashioned by an Avalonian elf smith, along with a scabbard which would protect him as long as he wore it.\"
...
\"The Name: The earliest Arthurian stories give the name of King Arthur\'s sword as Caladfwlch, a Welsh word derived from Calad-Bolg meaning \"Hard Lightning\". Later it developed to become the Caliburn of Geoffrey and Monmouth and finally the Frenchified Excalibur that we know today.\"
http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/excalibur.html
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:18:35 (GMT)
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\"It is apparently a common mistake to confuse the Sword in The Stone and Excalibur. Many people would today tell you that they are one and the same, yet although Arthur has always had a sword in popular accounts, it was the French Romancers who first introduced the story of Excalibur and The Lady of the Lake.
According to the now common tale, the Sword in the Stone broke in battle and was replaced with a second when Merlin guided Arthur to a magical lake, whereupon a mysterious hand presented him with a magnificent sword.\"
\"The earliest Arthurian stories give the name of King Arthur\'s sword as Caladfwlch - a Welsh word derived from Calad-Bolg, meaning \"Hard Lightning\". The name later developed to Caliburn in Geoffrey of Monmouth\'s account and finally to the current French Excalibur. It is also interesting to note that legendary figures throughout the world are generally associated with magical swords, which are often the source of their kingship. There are many similarities between the tales of Arthur and Excalibur and those of Norse, Irish and Welsh folklore.\"
http://www.hackwriters.com/ka-excalibur.htm
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:33:56 (GMT)
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Note that it was already Cuchulainn\'s sword name (under its Irish form).
"EXCALIBUR , nom de l'épée d'ARTHUR . Le mot est une déformation de Caledfoulch ou Kaledfoulc'h ou kaletfwlch qui signifierait "dur éclair" ou "dure foudre" appellation qui conviendrait parfaitement à une épée magique"
http://keltic.johnny.free.fr/mythes/E/excalibur.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-12-15 19:14:34 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"The Name \"Excalibur\" was first used for King Arthur\'s sword by the French Romancers. It was not the famous \"Sword in the Stone\" (which broke in battle), but a second sword acquired by the King through the intercession of his druidic advisor, Merddyn (Merlin). Worried that Arthur would fall in battle, Merlin took the King to a magical lake where a mysterious hand thrust itself up from the water, holding aloft a magnificent sword. It was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magic unbreakable blade, fashioned by an Avalonian elf smith, along with a scabbard which would protect him as long as he wore it.\"
...
\"The Name: The earliest Arthurian stories give the name of King Arthur\'s sword as Caladfwlch, a Welsh word derived from Calad-Bolg meaning \"Hard Lightning\". Later it developed to become the Caliburn of Geoffrey and Monmouth and finally the Frenchified Excalibur that we know today.\"
http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/excalibur.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-12-15 19:18:35 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"It is apparently a common mistake to confuse the Sword in The Stone and Excalibur. Many people would today tell you that they are one and the same, yet although Arthur has always had a sword in popular accounts, it was the French Romancers who first introduced the story of Excalibur and The Lady of the Lake.
According to the now common tale, the Sword in the Stone broke in battle and was replaced with a second when Merlin guided Arthur to a magical lake, whereupon a mysterious hand presented him with a magnificent sword.\"
\"The earliest Arthurian stories give the name of King Arthur\'s sword as Caladfwlch - a Welsh word derived from Calad-Bolg, meaning \"Hard Lightning\". The name later developed to Caliburn in Geoffrey of Monmouth\'s account and finally to the current French Excalibur. It is also interesting to note that legendary figures throughout the world are generally associated with magical swords, which are often the source of their kingship. There are many similarities between the tales of Arthur and Excalibur and those of Norse, Irish and Welsh folklore.\"
http://www.hackwriters.com/ka-excalibur.htm
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:33:56 (GMT)
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Note that it was already Cuchulainn\'s sword name (under its Irish form).
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks a lot. It helped me a lot, and thanks also for the stories and legends about the sword.
Have you noticed it was quite common to give a name to a swords? You mentioned Cuchulainn and there is also Roland with Durandal and probably a lot of others I don't know:-)
Merry Christmas
PS: Anyway, I would like to thank all of you guys. I take everything you suggest into consideration and it's very useful. Thanks you very much"
+1
2 mins
Note
Excalibur, meaning 'cut steel', was the sacred sword believed to possess the power to protect King Arthur from wounding so long as he wore it together with its ...
http://www.chalicewellshop.com/moreinfo/mij0025.htm
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:12:23 (GMT)
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The exact meaning of Excalibur is unknown; it is believed to signify liberated from stone, and it accepted as an earlier form of excelsior.
http://kldp.org/Translations/html/NetHack_Guide-KLDP/c241.ht...
http://www.chalicewellshop.com/moreinfo/mij0025.htm
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:12:23 (GMT)
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The exact meaning of Excalibur is unknown; it is believed to signify liberated from stone, and it accepted as an earlier form of excelsior.
http://kldp.org/Translations/html/NetHack_Guide-KLDP/c241.ht...
4 mins
Excalibur
here's an explanation I found:
"Ex·cal·i·bur
(click to hear the word) (k-skl-br)
n.
In Arthurian legend, the sword belonging to King Arthur.
[Middle English, alteration (perhaps influenced by Latin chalybs, steel), of Medieval Latin Caliburnus from Middle Welsh Caletuwlch, or Middle Irish Caladbolg, a legendary sword.]"
So it seems to be of Celtic origin.
HTH,
Serge L.
"Ex·cal·i·bur
(click to hear the word) (k-skl-br)
n.
In Arthurian legend, the sword belonging to King Arthur.
[Middle English, alteration (perhaps influenced by Latin chalybs, steel), of Medieval Latin Caliburnus from Middle Welsh Caletuwlch, or Middle Irish Caladbolg, a legendary sword.]"
So it seems to be of Celtic origin.
HTH,
Serge L.
+2
4 mins
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
2249
See explanation
Excalibur
A corrupt form of Caliburn’ (the name used in Geoffrey of Monmouth), was King Arthur’s sword, which he drew out of a stone when no one else could move it or which was given to him by the Lady of the Lake (Malory, Bk I). Malory says that the name means cut-steel’, but the Welsh form in the Mabinogion is related to the Irish Caladbolg (battlesword), a famous legendary sword. According to Malory, when Arthur was mortally wounded in the last battle, he ordered Sir Bedevere to throw Excalibur into the lake. A hand rose from the water, took the sword, and vanished.
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:33:36 (GMT)
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Excalibur - from O.Fr. Escalibor, corruption of Caliburn, in Geoffrey of Monmouth (c.1140) Caliburnus, perhaps from Ir. sword name Caladbolg, lit. \"hard-belly,\" i.e. \"voracious.\"
http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/e4etym.htm
A corrupt form of Caliburn’ (the name used in Geoffrey of Monmouth), was King Arthur’s sword, which he drew out of a stone when no one else could move it or which was given to him by the Lady of the Lake (Malory, Bk I). Malory says that the name means cut-steel’, but the Welsh form in the Mabinogion is related to the Irish Caladbolg (battlesword), a famous legendary sword. According to Malory, when Arthur was mortally wounded in the last battle, he ordered Sir Bedevere to throw Excalibur into the lake. A hand rose from the water, took the sword, and vanished.
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Note added at 2002-12-15 19:33:36 (GMT)
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Excalibur - from O.Fr. Escalibor, corruption of Caliburn, in Geoffrey of Monmouth (c.1140) Caliburnus, perhaps from Ir. sword name Caladbolg, lit. \"hard-belly,\" i.e. \"voracious.\"
http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/e4etym.htm
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ildiko Santana
: [see also: online etymology dictionary at http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/e4etym.htm]
7 mins
|
|
Looks like no one is sure.
|
|
| agree |
Refugio
: The Welsh is good, but the Irish is even better.
1 hr
|
10 mins
Fernando Muela Sopeña
Spain
Spain
Spain
The passion for the right word
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: French to Spanish, Russian to Spanish, Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
4
cut steel
See the explanation below.
The wonderful, magical sword of Great King Arthur was the symbol of his power during the years of his fabulous reign. The sword named Excalibur, formally known as Caliburnus, "cut steel" or Chalybs, which in Latin means, "steel", is known as a mystical power in its own right as well as an extension of Arthur himself. According to legend, Arthur without Excalibur, could not be king. As most swords in those days were made of bronze it is easy to see that a steel sword which could literally cut through all swords of bronze was special and made its wielder seem magical and invincible.
http://www.geocities.com/area51/shire/3951/excal.html
The wonderful, magical sword of Great King Arthur was the symbol of his power during the years of his fabulous reign. The sword named Excalibur, formally known as Caliburnus, "cut steel" or Chalybs, which in Latin means, "steel", is known as a mystical power in its own right as well as an extension of Arthur himself. According to legend, Arthur without Excalibur, could not be king. As most swords in those days were made of bronze it is easy to see that a steel sword which could literally cut through all swords of bronze was special and made its wielder seem magical and invincible.
http://www.geocities.com/area51/shire/3951/excal.html
20 mins
Paul Stevens
Native in English
&
English
Accurate and reliable translations
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
hard lightning OR steel
Basically "you pays your money and you takes your choice".
I found the following on: http://www.haverford.edu/engl/faculty/maudwebpage/WebArthur/... -
Like many of the characters and symbols that are associated with the legend of King Arthur, the mighty sword of Arthur has a long and varied literary history. One of the earliest published references to King Arthur's sword is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's The History of the Kings of England, first published in 1138. At this point, the weapon is known as Caliburn or Caliburnus, (from the Latin chalybs, or "steel") and was supposedly forged by fairies, on the mystical island of Avalon: "He was girded with the best of swords, Caliburn, which had been made on the isle of Avalon." Richard Barber, however, argues that this weapon appears before this work in the form of Caledfwlch (from the Welsh Calad-Bolg, which means "hard lightning"), Arthur's sword in Culhwch and Olwen, a Welsh tale from around the end of the eleventh century. By the 1150's, Arthur's sword had assumed the name of Excalibur, in the North French vernacular story Roman De Brut, by Wace: "He strapped on his sword, Excalibur, which was very long and broad. It had been forged on the island of Avalon, and it always assisted the man who held it." Nevertheless, the name Caliburn does return to the legend, such as in the later The Alliterative Morte Arthure: "He whips out Caliburn, all freshly whetted."
I found the following on: http://www.haverford.edu/engl/faculty/maudwebpage/WebArthur/... -
Like many of the characters and symbols that are associated with the legend of King Arthur, the mighty sword of Arthur has a long and varied literary history. One of the earliest published references to King Arthur's sword is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's The History of the Kings of England, first published in 1138. At this point, the weapon is known as Caliburn or Caliburnus, (from the Latin chalybs, or "steel") and was supposedly forged by fairies, on the mystical island of Avalon: "He was girded with the best of swords, Caliburn, which had been made on the isle of Avalon." Richard Barber, however, argues that this weapon appears before this work in the form of Caledfwlch (from the Welsh Calad-Bolg, which means "hard lightning"), Arthur's sword in Culhwch and Olwen, a Welsh tale from around the end of the eleventh century. By the 1150's, Arthur's sword had assumed the name of Excalibur, in the North French vernacular story Roman De Brut, by Wace: "He strapped on his sword, Excalibur, which was very long and broad. It had been forged on the island of Avalon, and it always assisted the man who held it." Nevertheless, the name Caliburn does return to the legend, such as in the later The Alliterative Morte Arthure: "He whips out Caliburn, all freshly whetted."
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