Thral
/θrɔːl/noun
An archaic or dialectal form of thrall, meaning a slave or person in bondage.
Did you know?Thral is an archaic spelling related to thrall, the source of “enthrall,” so to be enthralled originally carried the imagery of being reduced to bondage.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þrallaz
“A slave or unfree person; the exact deeper origin is uncertain.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
þræll
“A slave, serf, or unfree person.”
Old English
Old English
þræl
“A slave or servant in bondage.”
Middle English
Middle English
thral
“A slave, bondman, or person subject to another.”
14th–16th Century
English
thral
“An archaic spelling and form of thrall.”
Modern English
English
thral
“A rare archaic or dialectal form preserved mainly in historical and literary usage.”