KVÍSL

(pl. -ir), f.

1) branch (of a tree);

2) fork;

3) fork of a river;

4) pedigree of a family.

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f. a branch, esp. of a tree, a fork, Fms. i. 75 (a dung fork); hey-k., a hay fork: of a stag’s horns, Str. 3; kvísla-tré, a forked tree, a fork, Rd. 296: of the letter y, Skálda 161.

II. metaph. the fork of a river; hann hélt upp eptir inni Eystri kvísl, Fms. vii. 55, 188, Stj. 108, Symb. 12; nú eru kvíslir fleiri, ok skal eigi banna fiski för í einni kvísl, Grág. ii. 351; mið-k., the middle stream, Nj. 236; Elfar-kvíslir, a local name, the mouth of the Gota River, Fms.; Vana-k., Hkr. (begin.):—the stem or pedigree of a family, skal í þá kvísl óðal hverfa, Gþl. 282; milli fjarborinna kvísla, Sks. 330; kyn-kvísl, ætt-kvísl, nið-kvísl, lineage.