seolh

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *selhaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /se͜olx/, [se͜oɫx]

Noun

seolh m (nominative plural sēolas)

1. seal (animal)
   • late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History

     Swylċe ēac þēos eorþe is berende missenlīcra fugela ⁊ sǣwihta ⁊ hēr bēoþ oft fanġene seolas ⁊ hronas and mereswȳn; ⁊ hēr bēoþ oft numene missenlīcra cynna weolcsċylle ⁊ muscule, ⁊ on þām oft ġemette þā betstan meregrotan ǣlces hīwes.

     This land also bears various birds and sea creatures, and seals, porpoises, and dolphins are often caught here; and various kinds of mussels and shellfish are often taken, and in them the best pearls of every color are often found.

Declension

Declension of seolh (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	seolh	sēolas
accusative	seolh	sēolas
genitive	sēoles	sēola
dative	sēole	sēolum

Descendants

• English: seal
• Scots: selch
  • ⇒ Scots: selkie
    • → English: selkie