English

Noun

gesith ‎(plural gesiths)

1. (historical) A companion to an athel or king in medieval England; a thegn; a comrade
   • 1903, William Stubbs, The constitutional history of England in its origin and development:

     Beowulf the son of the noble Ecgtheow became the gesith of King Hygelac, and, when he rose to be a chieftain, had lands, treasures, and gesiths of his own [...]

   • 1999, Saint Bede (the Venerable), Judith McClure, Roger Collins, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People:

     The gesith took him and had his wounds attended to.

   • 2010, Liane Merciel, The River Kings' Road (Fiction), Simon and Schuster, ISBN 9781439159118, page 73:

     "Now comes before you Luisan the Fat of Littlewood, who stands accused of murder," announced Heldric, gesith of Lord Ossaric's liegemen and most experienced in the ways of the court.

References

• OED 2nd edition 1989
• Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

Anagrams

• eights