Definitions For Odal

Adjective

(not comparable) Of or relating to odal land.

Noun

ODAL (plural ODALs) (legal, historical) Among the early and medieval teutonic peoples, especially scandinavians, the heritable land held by the various odalman, odalmen constituting a family or kindred of freeborn tribesman, tribesmen. The ownership of such land.

Usage notes

The odal was subject only to certain rights of the family or kindred in restricting the freedom of transfer or sale and giving certain rights of redemption in case of change of ownership by inheritance, etc., and perhaps to other rights of the kindred or the tribe. Survivals of the early odal estates and tenure exist in Orkney and Shetland, where it is usually called by the variant form udal.

Alternative forms

udal

Etymology

From {{etyl, is, en}} óðal. Cognate with {{cog, no, odel, , allodium, patrimony}}, {{cog, ang, ēþel, , homeland}}. Compare athel, Odelsthing.

See also

{{l, mul, ᛟ}} (a rune associated with odal) odal oil

Anagrams

-load, Aldo, alod, load