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We have noted that the magical connotations of "spell" are not seen in Anglo-Saxon. If they existed at that time, we have no extant record of them. We have also seen that "rune" was used to denote magic primarily in the Scandinavian languages, and that that connotation seems lacking in Anglo-Saxon. We are left to wonder, then, what wording was used before the introduction of the Latin terms now in use. The answer lies in a complex of words centered around the root "gal." This was at one time a primary root word used to denote magical incantation. We will first look at the Germanic background of the word, then return to English. In Old Norse, we see "gala," meaning to cry out or sing. It also had the connotation of magical incantation, and to "gala ser ogott" meant to call down evil powers on someone. A "galdr" was a magic spell. To "gala galdr" meant to incant magic spells. A "galdrakona" was a witch. Also related is the Old Norse "kall," meaning to call or cry out. In Norwegian, "galder" is magic or witchcraft. To "galdre" is to chant magic songs or charms or conjure. A "galdresang" is a charm or magic song. To "gale" is to incant magic songs or to bewitch. The Old High German "galan" was cognate in meaning to the Old Norse "gala," and could mean sing as well as incant spells or enchant. The initial consonant switches off in Old High German, so we see such variants recorded as "kalster," meaning magic, "calstrare," meaning magician, "galsterare," meaning enchantress, and so on. Both Old Norse and Old High German have a variant meaning shriek, scream or cry out, which is seen as "gialla" and "gellan" respectively. Turning now to Anglo-Saxon, we see "galan," identical to the Old High German. It also meant sing as well as incant spells or enchant. "Galdor" is cognate to the Old Norse "galdr," and meant either a song or a spell. "Galdorcræft" meant the occult arts. "Galdorsang" is cognate to "galdresang." A "galdorword" was a magic word and a "galdorcwide" was an incantation. There were many words for magician or enchanter, including "galdre," "galdorcræftiga," "galdorgalend" and "galere." Of course, we can't forget the "galdricge," or enchantress. This root word passed into Middle English in a variety of forms. We see "gal," meaning a song, "galen," meaning to sing or cry out, "galin," meaning to sing or make a loud noise, "galful," meaning melodious and "galpen," meaning to yawn. The last of these leading to the Modern English "yelp." The root also survived into Modern English as "yell." "Galder" itself survived into Middle English as an enchantment. "Galere" also survived as enchanter. The root is still used every time we speak of "calling" down spirits or the "Enochian Calls," for instance. "Call" comes from the Middle English "callen," which derives from the aforementioned Old Norse "kall." From this overview, we can see that "gal" presents us with another case where magic is intimately tied into speech and song. |