gormur

Attested since the 17th century. From an unattested Old Norse *gormr, whence also Norwegian Nynorsk gorm, gurm (“mud, sludge”) and dialectal or obsolete Swedish gorm (“filth; fish guts; fruit solids left over after pressing the juice out”), from a Proto-Germanic *gurmaz. Related to ger and gor. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- (“hot”). The meaning “coil, spring” developed from the resemblance of metal coils to fish or animal intestines.

• IPA^(key): /kɔrmʏr/
• Rhymes: -ɔrmʏr
• Homophone: Gormur

gormur m (genitive singular gorms, nominative plural gormar)

1. mud, sludge

   Synonyms: leðja, drulla, korgur

2. liquid animal faeces
3. the guts or intestines of a fish

   Synonyms: innyfli, garnir, þarmar

4. a bottomless morass
5. a coil spring (mechanical device)

   Synonym: fjöður

6. coil, spiral, helix, a coil-shaped object

   Synonym: fjöður

7. a coil of silver or gold wire for use in embroidery

• Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon (1989) “gormur”, in Íslensk orðsifjabók, Reykjavík: Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, →ISBN (Available at Málið.is under the “Eldri orðabækur” tab.)
• gorm in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)