cneow-rim

m. [A. S. cneow-rim and cneowres, see kné II. above: knérunnr (if referred to runnr = a grove) gives no adequate meaning, whereas the A. S. rîm = number is just the word we should expect; and as the identity between the A. S. and Norse law terms can scarcely be doubted, it is likely that the Norse or Icel. form is simply a corruption of the A. S. form. Probably, as the A. S. rîm was unintelligible to the Norsemen, they took the Norse word nearest in sound; the word was probably borrowed from the A. S. through the eccl. law, so that its use in Nj. is an anachronism]:—lineage, as also degree in lineage; þat er k. at telja frá systkinum, Grág. i. 171; telja knérunnum, 254; veg þú aldrei meir í enn sama knérunn en um sinn, Nj. 85; allt til hinnar sjaundu kynkvíslar eða knérunns, Stj. 54; ella mun ek mæla þat orð, Yngveldr, at uppi mun vera alla æfi í knérunni yðrum, Þorst. Síðu H. 186.