viðskeyti

Viðskeyti is a term used in Icelandic archival science and manuscript studies to denote a brief note attached to a document that identifies its purpose, audience, or subject matter. In historical manuscripts and administrative records, a viðskeyti often appears at the top or in the margin and serves as a heading or descriptor for the content that follows. The term is useful for organizing collections, as it helps archivists distinguish multiple documents that are kept together and indicates why each item was retained.

Etymology and usage contexts suggest a meaning along the lines of “a note accompanying” a document. The prefix vi- can convey a sense of relation or association, while skeyti refers to a note or message. Consequently, a viðskeyti functions as a concise, contextual label that accompanies primary material, aiding later interpretation and cataloging.

In modern practice, viðskeyti is most commonly encountered in scholarly editions, paleography, and archival annotations rather than in everyday writing. It is part of a broader set of terms used to describe metadata and physical features of manuscripts and records in Icelandic archival vocabulary.

See also: skeyti, skrift, Viðskeyti (related archival terms in Icelandic), archival cataloging, paleography.