The region of medieval England (primarily the Midlands and Northeast) where Danish law and customs were accepted as the legal system, established after Viking settlement treaties.
From 'Dane' plus 'law,' literally meaning the legal authority of the Danes; established through treaties and settlements in the 9th-10th centuries.
The Danelaw shows how Vikings didn't just raid England—they actually settled and created parallel legal systems that lasted for centuries, fundamentally shaping English law and language with Norse influence.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.