HVÁLF

n.

1) vault;

2) concavity (of a shield).

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n., mod. form hólf, [A. S. hwealf], a vault, Bs. i. 177, Sks. 633, Al. 89; gufu-hvolf, or dampa-h., ‘steam-vault,’ the atmosphere, (mod.): of the concavity of a shield, Boll. 340; vera á hválfi, keel uppermost, of a boat or vessel; see hólf.