Save Gender Masculine Usage Anglo-Saxon Pronounced Pron. /jiːsl,ˈxe.re/(Old English) [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsGiselhere Meaning & History Derived from Old English elements ġīsl "hostage" (from gīslaz) and here "army". Cognate to Germanic Giselher. This was the name of an 8th century Bishop of Selsey.