beslag

Beslag is a polysemous term used in several Northern European languages, including Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. In English, it is commonly translated as hardware, fittings, or attachments. Its meaning depends on the context, spanning both practical and legal domains.

In the hardware sense, beslag refers to metal fittings used to mount, fasten, or decorate components in furniture, cabinetry, doors, and windows. Examples include hinges, handles and locksets, catches, brackets, corner braces, and other mounting hardware. Beslag covers a broad range of products designed to secure parts together, enable movement, or provide decorative and protective elements on architectural and furnishing projects. It is a standard category in carpentry, interior design, and construction.

In legal terms, beslag denotes seizure or attachment by authorities. The phrase in beslag nemen means to seize property as evidence or to secure a claim, and the adjective or noun form under beslag indicates that something is currently seized. This usage is common in Dutch and in similar forms in other Scandinavian languages, where seizure of assets or goods is described with the same term.

Etymology traces beslag to Germanic roots related to fastening or mounting, which explains its parallel use across closely related languages for both physical fittings and the act of attaching or seizing. While the hardware meaning is the most widespread in everyday use, the legal sense is an important and distinct application in formal contexts.