Editing Tafl games (section)

==Etymology==
English has borrowed the term from {{lang|non|tafl}} ({{IPA|non|tavl|pron}}; {{langnf|non||table|term2=board game}}),<ref>[[#Reference-idEllis1869|Ellis 1869]], pp.&nbsp;554, 559. The pronunciation of ''f'' as [v] is included in the table on p. 554 (also here attributed to [[Jakob Grimm]]), and borne out in the comparative translation on p.&nbsp;559.</ref><ref name=noreen>{{cite book|last=Noreen |first=A. |title=Altnordische Grammatik |trans-title=Old Norse Grammar |year=1923 |series=Altisländische und altnorwegische Grammatik |edition=4th |chapter=36 |quote=f bezeichnet zwei verschiedene laute: 1. Bilabiales, später labiodentales f im Anlaut (des wortes oder des Zusammensetzungsgliedes), vor k, s, t und in der Verdoppelung, z. B. {{lang|non|italic=unset|nocat=y|fara, rífka, liúfs, liúft, offra}}. 2. Bilabiales v (ƀ), später labiodentales v in übrigen Stellungen ... z. B. {{lang|non|italic=unset|nocat=y|hafþa, erfa, kelfa, gefa, gaf, huarf}}.|language=de |trans-quote=f represents two distinct sounds: 1. Bilabial, later labiodental f in the onset (of a word or component of a compound word), before k, s, t and when doubled, e.g. {{lang|non|italic=unset|nocat=y|fara, rífka, liúfs, liúft, offra}}. 2. Bilabial v (ƀ), later labiodental v in usual locations ... e.g. {{lang|non|italic=unset|nocat=y|hafþa, erfa, kelfa, gefa, gaf, huarf}}.}}</ref> a generic term referring to board games.

{{lang|non|Hnefatafl}} (roughly {{IPA|non|hnevatavl|}},<ref name=noreen/> plausibly realised as {{IPA|non|n̥ɛvatavl|}}), became the preferred term for the game in [[Scandinavia]] by the end of the [[Viking Age]], to distinguish it from other board games, such as {{lang|non|skáktafl}} ([[chess]]), {{lang|non|kvatrutafl}} ([[Tables game|tables]]) and {{lang|non|halatafl}} ([[fox games]]), as these became known.<ref name="Murray"/> The specific name {{lang|non|hnefatafl}} possibly arose as meaning "board game of the fist", from {{lang|non|hnefi}} ("fist") + {{lang|non|tafl}},<ref>[[#Reference-idHelmfrid2025|Helmfrid 2025]], p. 1, discusses this etymology, elements of which are confirmed by [[#Reference-idZoega1910|Zoëga 1910]], "hnefa"/"-tafl"/"hnefi".</ref> where "fist" referred to the central king-piece.

The precise [[etymology]] is not entirely certain<ref>[[#Reference-idMurray1951|Murray 1951]], p.&nbsp;60, says "{{lang|non|hnefi}} (meaning doubtful, but used of the king-piece)", while [[#Reference-idHelmfrid2025|Helmfrid 2025]], p.&nbsp;1, notes that {{lang|non|hnefa}} is the [[genitive]] form of [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] {{lang|non|hnefi}} (fist), but observes that "since the hnefi had a role corresponding to the king in chess it is often translated as king."</ref> but {{lang|non|hnefi}} certainly referred to the king-piece,<ref>[[#Reference-idMurray1951|Murray 1951]], p.&nbsp;60. Helmfrid, Bell, and Hervarar Saga all agree on this point.</ref> and several sources{{who|date=January 2018}} refer to {{lang|non|hnefatafl}} as "king's table". In [[History of Anglo-Saxon England|Anglo-Saxon England]], the term {{lang|ang|tæfl}} also referred to many board games. It is not known if the [[Anglo-Saxons]] had a specific name for the game or if they generically referred to it as {{lang|ang|tæfl}} in the way that modern people might refer to "cards".

Several games may be confused with {{lang|non|tafl}} games, due to the inclusion of the word {{lang|non|tafl}} in their names or other similarities. {{lang|non|Halatafl}} is the Old Norse name for [[Fox games#Fox and geese|fox and geese]], a game dating from at least the 14th century. It is still known and played in Europe. {{lang|non|kvatrutafl}} is the Old Norse name for [[Tables game|tables]] (the medieval forerunner of [[backgammon]]). {{lang|non|Skáktafl}} is the Old Norse name for chess. {{lang|sga|[[Fidchell]]}} or {{lang|sga|fithcheall}} ([[Modern Irish]]: {{lang|ga|ficheall}}) was played in Ireland. The [[Welsh language|Welsh]] equivalent was {{lang|cy|gwyddbwyll}} and the [[Breton language|Breton]] equivalent {{lang|br|gwezboell}}; all terms mean "wood-sense".<ref>[[#Reference-idBayless2005|Bayless 2005]], p.&nbsp;17.</ref> This popular medieval game was played with equal forces on each side and thus was not a {{lang|non|tafl}} variant, but rather may have been the medieval descendant of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] game {{lang|la|latrunculi}} or {{lang|la|[[ludus latrunculorum]]}}.<ref>[[#Reference-idHelmfrid2025|Helmfrid 2025]], p.&nbsp;7, and [[#Reference-idMurray1951|Murray 1951]], p.&nbsp;35. Also, [[#Reference-idBayless2005|Bayless 2005]], p.&nbsp;17, further discusses the link between {{lang|sga|Fidchell}} and {{lang|la|Latrunculi}} and the difference between these games and the {{lang|non|tafl}} family.</ref>