skjall ¹

Merkingar

n. the white membrane of an egg, Edda 12; hvítr sem skjall, white as s., id.; skjalli hvítara, Gsp.

1. 2.

   a membrane, the white skin stretched over a round frame (skjár) and used for a window; hence the phrase, vera sem skjall á skjá, to be like a skjall on a frame, of a fickle, shifty person, cp. the mod. ‘brittle as glass:’ the phrase in N. G. L. i. 384—en ef hann svarar, at nú gengr eigi skjall á skjá = but if he answers, ‘tis no matter, never mind!—is somewhat obscure, skjall-hvítr, adj. white as skjall, Gd. 68 (of a lily).