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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OP DUBLIN. 129
from that of the prince ;
the spiritual and temporal
jurisdictions were no longer united in the same
individual, and the pagan relic of priestly office
BOOK n
ceased to be used by the Ostman kings of Dublin.
We think that the appearance of the name " Gille " o^ 1"5
Scandin&run
in Irish Annals, also affords evidence that the t* Gm -
worship of Thor was the paganism of our Ostmen.
Heretofore, Irish scholars have considered the word
Gille to be of Irish origin, notwithstanding the opinion
of an eminent etymologist, who, in recently tracing
the derivation of the modern Scotch term " Gilly,"
assumes as " more than probable that the term has
been borrowed from the Scandinavian settlers in
Ireland and the Isles, as there is no similar term in
Cambro Britannic, and as the Icelandic Gilla and
Giolla both signify a boy (servant), it is more likely
that the Irish received it from their Norse con-
querors than that they borrowed it from them, and
incorporated it into the Gothic language." 1
Our suggestion, however, extends a little farther,
There can be no doubt the word 'Gille' was used by
the Scandinavians as a proper name, as we read of
"Gille the Lagman [or Law maker] of the Faroe
Islands," 2 " Gille, Count of the Hebrides," 3 " Gille
i Jamieson's Etym. Die. Sup- proper names." 4to, Clarendon
pleun-nt, Edinburgh. 1825, on the Press, Oxford, 1874. The stateword
Gillie . At a later period the ment of Jamieson's as to the use
term Gille was also used by the of the words Gilla and Giolla
Irish to signify a boy, servant, see in the Icelandic language does
Ann. Four Mast., 1022. -'Muiren not seem to be borne out by any
was slain by two Gillies of the other dictionary.]
Luighni."
"Gille Lbgsogomadr," Heimsk,
[In Cleaseby and Vigfusson's vol. ii., p. 208.
Icelandic English Dictionary at Nials Saga. Havniae, 1809, p.
the word Gilli "Gilli, [Gaelic, 690.
Gillie], a servant, only in Irish