† haliweyn.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Middle High German heilwāc , heilawāc , heilwæge (early modern German heilwag ), Old Icelandic heilivágr , both in the sense ‘healing liquid’ < the Germanic base of heal n. + the Germanic base of Old English wǣg (see waw n.¹). In some forms perhaps showing the influence of forms of whole adj. (compare e.g. early Middle English halewi and compare note on Old English below). Other forms clearly show the influence of forms of holy adj. (compare especially Middle English holywey).In older discussions frequently connected with Germanic beliefs about water spirits and sacred springs or streams. However, although the word is attested with reference to supernatural properties of spring-water in German sources, it is not certain how old this belief is. Possible attestation in Old English. The following disputed passage in a charm, of uncertain sense, perhaps shows currency of the word in Old English in the form halewæge , although the first element appears to show a form of hāl whole adj. rather than heal n., and the second element has alternatively been interpreted as wǣge cup; moreover, it is not certain whether this example shows a true compound or a syntactic combination of adjective and noun hale wæge:eOE Metrical Charm: For Water-Elf Disease (Royal 12 D.xvii) 12 Ac him self healde halewæge, ne ace þe þon ma, þe eorþan on eare ace.