arf (OSw) ör (ON) noun

This term (etymologically a cognate of English arrow) occurred in two senses in ON: 1) a weapon (used with a hand-bow), 2) a message baton. The latter sense does not occur in OSw laws. The arrow usually had a point of metal and a shaft of wood. A message baton in the form of an arrow was used to summon people to the thing assembly in the case of murder, or to give warning against an approaching enemy. These functions are attested in several chapters of the GuL, esp. in the Mannhelgarbölkr (151, 160, 181), but also elsewhere (32, 314). On the fairway along the coast, the arrow had to be of iron when war was expected, otherwise wood. It was required by law to pass the message baton on. If this was neglected the culprit might in some cases be fined. Exempted from this duty were tenants who were about to move their household (GuL ch. 73). A message baton might be stopped temporarily where it came to a night quarter, or if it could not be passed on for reasons of emergency (GuL ch. 131). If anyone was not at home to receive the message baton the bearer had to cut three notches into the doorpost or the casing and set the baton in the lintel above the door (ibid.).

arrow ONorw GuL Kvr, Leb
OSw HL Blb, Rb
OSw SdmL Mb
inheritance OSw MESt Add
message baton ONorw GuL Krb, Mhb, Leb
Expressions:

skera ör (ON)

cut an arrow OIce Jó Mah 10 Js Mah 10, 17 ONorw FrL Mhb 6, 23

Refs:

Hertzberg s.v. ör; KLNM s.v.v. budstikke, landvärn, lendmann, pil II, ǫrvarþing