gen. gísles; dat. gísle; m. A pledge, hostage; obses :-- Gýsel obses, Wrt. Voc. 72, 63: Byrht. Th. 139, 36; By. 265. Bútan ánum Bryttiscum gísle except one British hostage, Chr. 755; Erl. 50, 8. Ecgferþ wæs to gísle geseald Ecgfrid obses tenebatur, Bd. 3, 24; S. 556, 26. Ðú eádige Maria God ðé hafaþ to gísle on middangearde geseted thou blessed Mary, God hath placed thee on earth as a surety, Blickl. Homl. 9, 5. Hió genam ðone ǽnne to gísle she took the one as hostage, Elen. Kmbl. 1196; El. 600. He him áðas swór and gíslas salde he swore oaths to them and gave hostages, Chr. 874; Erl. 76, 28. Ðá gyrnde he griðes and gísla then he required protection and hostages, 1048 ; Erl. 180, 6. [Laym. ȝisles, pl: Icel. gísl: Dan. gidsel, gissel: Swed. gislan: Ger. geissel: O. H. Ger. kísal obses.