earslyre

Old English

Etymology

From ears (buttocks, ass) +‎ lȳre, the latter element presumably being a variant of līra ("brawn, muscle").

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈæ͜ɑrsˌlyː.re/, [ˈæ͜ɑrˠzˌlyː.re]

Noun

earslȳre m

  1. the breech muscle; the gluteal muscles

Usage notes

  • Assumed to be a masculine noun, based on the gender of the assumed source of the second element, līra. However, the actual gender is uncertain, as the word is only attested in a single gloss. If it is masculine, then the -e suffix in the nominative singular form would suggest a ja-stem noun (as shown in the declension table above), rather than an n-stem like līra.

Declension

Strong ja-stem:

singular plural
nominative earslȳre earslȳras
accusative earslȳre earslȳras
genitive earslȳres earslȳra
dative earslȳre earslȳrum

References