Þul Sea-kings 1^III

Ekkill ‘Ekkill’

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Ekkill (noun m.): Ekkill

notes

[1] Ekkill: Lit. ‘one who lives (sails, fights) alone’ (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 128); cf. ekkill m. ‘widower’, Goth. ainakls ‘single, alone’. The name occurs in kennings for ‘ship’, ‘sea’ and ‘battle’ (LP: Ekkill). In Hversu Nóregr byggðisk (Flat 1860-8, I, 22), the sea-king Ekkill is said to be the brother of Skekkill and the son of Myndill (cf. Mundill, l. 5). See also Þul Sækonunga 2/3.

Eitill ‘Eitill’

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Eitill (noun m.): Eitill

[1] Eitill: so W, 2368ˣ, ‘ettill’ A

notes

[1] Eitill: Perhaps originally a nickname, either ‘short, stout fellow’ (cf. ModIcel. eitill m. ‘a nodule in stone, iron, or the like’; Björn Sigfússon 1934, 128) or ‘hard as flint’ (for further explanations, see ÍO: eitill). In Old Norse, Eitill is attested only as the name of Atli’s young son who was killed by his mother, Guðrún (Akv 37/3, Hamð 8/3), but it is found as an element in Swedish and Norwegian farm names (e.g. Etilstun, Eitilstadir).

Skekkill ‘Skekkill’

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skekkill (noun m.): skekkill

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[1] Skekkill: Most likely originally a nickname meaning ‘wry’ (cf. the adj. skakkr ‘wry, distorted, lame’; Björn Sigfússon 1934, 137). Skekkill is said to be the brother of Ekkill (see Note above). It is unclear whether this sea-king is identical with a legendary person of the same name mentioned in Hyndl 21/4. The name is also found in Þul Sækonunga 2/3 (cf. Skekkill, Ekkill), but it is never used in skaldic kennings.

Eimnir ‘Eimnir’

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eimnir (noun m.): Eimnir

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[2] Eimnir: The name does not occur elsewhere, but is possibly cognate with eimr, eimi m. ‘fire’, hence ‘flamer’ (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 128; Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 292). Cf. eimnir ‘flamer’ among the sword-heiti (Þul Sverða 9/6) and the giant-name Eimgeitir (Þul Jǫtna II 1/3).

Gestill ‘Gestill’

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Gestill (noun m.): Gestill

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[2] Gestill: Perhaps a diminutive form of gestr m., hence ‘little guest’ (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 130; Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 291). Cf. also OHG Gestilo, a m. pers. n. The name occurs in kennings for ‘ship’ and is also listed in Þul Sækonunga 1/6.

Reimnir ‘Reimnir’

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Reimnir (noun m.): Reimnir

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[2] Reimnir: Undoubtedly identical with Reifnir (LP: Reimnir; for ‑fn > ‑mn, see ANG §237.2). In the latter form the name is mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 4/2 and in Hyndl 23/2, where it is the name of one of Arngrímr’s sons. It is used in skaldic kennings. Most likely its meaning is ‘one who cheers others with presents’, ‘liberal’ (cf. the weak verb reifa ‘enrich, give, gladden’ and the adj. reifr ‘cheerful’; Björn Sigfússon 1934, 136; Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 293).

Heiti ‘Heiti’

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Heiti (noun m.): Heiti

notes

[3] Heiti: The name occurs in many kennings and is also mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 3/4. Its meaning is not certain, perhaps either ‘promiser’ or ‘threatener’ (cf. the strong verb heita ‘promise, threaten, name’, heit n. ‘a solemn promise, vow’, heit (pl.) ‘threatening words’; see Björn Sigfússon 1934, 132). In Hversu Nóregr byggðisk (Flat 1860-8, I, 22), Heiti is said to be the son of king Górr and the brother of Beiti(r), Meitir (see Meiti below) and Geitir.

Hœkingr ‘Hœkingr’

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hœkingr (noun m.): Hœkingr

[3] Hœkingr: so W, 2368ˣ, ‘hǫking’ A

notes

[3] Hœkingr: The name is not found in skaldic kennings, but it appears in the rímur (Finnur Jónsson 1926-8: Hœkingr). As to its possible origin, cf. the pers. n. Hōc in Beowulf l. 1076 (Beowulf 2008, 38). If the correct reading is Hækingr (with <æ> rather than <œ>), however, the name might be derived from Háki, cf. hákr m. ‘glutton’ (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 133; Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 292). One Hæklingr víkingr is mentioned in Hálfs saga (Hálf, FSN II, 26-7). See also hœkingr ‘hooked one’ among the sword-heiti in Þul Sverða 7/7.

Meiti ‘Meiti’

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Meiti (noun m.): Meiti

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[3] Meiti: Lit. ‘cutter, hewer’ (cf. the weak verb meita ‘cut’; Björn Sigfússon 1934, 135). The name is common in kennings and is also mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 2/8. It is evidently identical with Meitir (see Note to Heiti in l. 3 above).

Heimi ‘Heimi’

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1. Heimi (noun m.): Heimi

[4] Heimi: beimi W

notes

[4] Heimi: The name is never used in this form. It is most likely identical with the name of Brynhildr’s foster-father, Heimir (in poetic sources mentioned only in Gríp, see e.g. st. 19/2, etc.; in prose, e.g. Vǫls 1965, chs 24-5, 29, pp. 41-2, 48, 50). The word could be a cognate of OHG Haimo, perhaps lit. ‘one who has his own home’ (ÍO: Heimir). It is also possible that this name may be a diminutive of Heimarr (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 131). See also the Old English name Hāma in Beowulf l. 1198 (Beowulf 2008, 42, 193-4 n. to ll. 1197-1201).

Mýsingr ‘Mýsingr’

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Mýsingr (noun m.): Mýsingr

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[4] Mýsingr: Perhaps the legendary sea-king known from the prose accompanying Grottasǫngr in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52), where it is told that he killed King Fróði, took away his mill Grotti and compelled the giantesses Fenja and Menja to grind out salt. The name is mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 3/2, but it is not used in kennings. Possibly a nickname derived from mús f. ‘mouse’ (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 135; for other suggested explanations see ÍO: Mýsing(u)r).

Beimi ‘Beimi’

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Beimi (noun m.): Beimi (sea-king)

notes

[4] Beimi: The name occurs in a man-kenning (Glúmr Gráf 13/2^I) and in Þul Sækonunga 4/6. Its origin is uncertain. According to Björn Sigfússon (1934, 127), the possible explanation is ‘one from Paimio(?)’ (see Beimuni, l. 8 below). Alternatively it might be a borrowing from OHG Pemmo, Pemo (see further explanations in ÍO: beimar). See also beimar pl. ‘men, warriors’ in Þul Manna 2/2. In Skm (SnE 1998, I, 105), Snorri claims that this heiti for ‘men’ was used as a name for the followers of King Beimuni.

Randvér ‘Randvér’

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Randvér (noun m.): Randvér

[5] Randvér: ‘rannvǽr’ A, ‘randorr’ W, Randar 2368ˣ

notes

[5] Randvér: Judging by the evidence from other sources (Frá Guðrúno (NK 263), Vǫls (Vǫls 1965, ch. 42, 75), Hyndl 28/8, Þul Sækonunga 4/1, etc.), this must be the correct form of the name (see Readings above). Randvér(r) is the name of several legendary princes, among them the son of Jǫrmunrekkr and the father of Sigurðr hringr ‘Ring’ (cf. Ættartölur in Flat 1860-8, I, 27). See also the sea-king Randus in Saxo (Saxo 2005, I, 7, 11, 12, pp. 506-7). The name occurs in several kennings.

Róði ‘Róði’

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róði (noun m.; °-a): Róði, wind

notes

[5] Róði: The name is attested in many kennings and is also included in Þul Sækonunga 3/7. Perhaps a nickname, either related to the weak verb rœða ‘speak’ (so Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 295) or derived from róða f. ‘rood, crucifix’ (< OE rōð), hence ‘one with a rood’. Björn Sigfússon (1934, 136-7) explains the name as follows: ‘We can fancy that some pagan Viking adopted the Christian symbol, the powerful crucifix, as a war-token on his raids, which would very likely give him the surname Róði’. For other possible interpretations, see ÍO: róði.

Mundill ‘Mundill’

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Mundill (noun m.): Mundill

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[5] Mundill: Or Myndill. The latter reading is found in Flat 1860-8, I, 22, where a sea-king of this name is said to be the father of Ekkill and Skekkill (see Note to l. 1 above) and the son of Meiti (see l. 3). However, cf. Mundilfœri, father of the sun and the moon (see e.g. Vafþr 23/1-3; spelled Mundilfari in Flat 1860-8, I, 24), whose name must be connected with mund n. ‘the nick of time’, as well as Goth. Mundila, Mundo mentioned by Jordanes in Getica (Mommsen 1882, §58, ##300-1; see also Björn Sigfússon 1934, 135). The name of this sea-king never occurs in kennings.

Rǫkkvi ‘Rǫkkvi’

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Rǫkkvi (noun m.): Rǫkkvi

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[6] Rǫkkvi: Or Røkkvi. See also Þul Sækonunga heiti 4/1. Perhaps the name means ‘one who goes (sails, attacks) in the dusk’ (from røkkr m. ‘twilight’; so Björn Sigfússon 1934, 137). Finnur Jónsson (1934-5, 295) suggests that the word could be derived from the adj. rakkr ‘courageous’. The name is used in kennings for ‘sea’, ‘ship’ and ‘shield’ (LP: Rǫkkvi).

Sǫlsi ‘Sǫlsi’

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Sǫlsi (noun m.): Sǫlsi

[6] Sǫlsi: so W, 2368ˣ, gylvir A

notes

[6] Sǫlsi: So W and 2368ˣ, whereas A gives the name Gylvir (= Gylfi; for the latter see Þul Sækonunga 1/8). Sǫlsi (lit. ‘pale one’ from the adj. sǫlr ‘pale’) is probably a pet-name for Sǫlvi formed according to the same pattern as bersi ‘bear’ from the stem *ber- (bjǫrn ‘bear’ < Gmc *bernu). For the names Sǫlvi and Sǫlsi, see Þul Sækonunga 2/4, 5/2. Other than in the þulur, the name occurs once in a sea-kenning (cf. Hallv Knútdr 1/3).

Nǫkkvi ‘Nǫkkvi’

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2. Nǫkkvi (noun m.): Nǫkkvi

notes

[6] Nǫkkvi: This is the name of Nanna’s father in Hyndl 20/2. Björn Sigfússon (1934, 136) mentions the Norwegian Nǫkkvi Pálsson, King Magnús Erlingsson’s district chieftain (c. 1167; see ÍF 28, 391), and suggests that the word may be related to OHG Nahho, Nahilo. It is possible, however, that the name is identical with nǫkkvi m. ‘boat’ (see Þul Skipa 1/8) and thus may be a nickname (cf. Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 295). The name occurs in a ship-kenning in Þhorn Harkv 9/5^I.

Hæmingr ‘Hæmingr’

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Hæmingr (noun m.): [Hæmingr, Hemingr]

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[7] Hæmingr: This is the name of the son of Hundingr (HHund II 1/1) and it is not attested in kennings. Another well-known legendary person of this name is the Norwegian hero Hemingr Áslaksson (Hem, Hb 1892-6, 331-49); cf. also the Danish Hammingus mentioned in Annales Fuldenses s. a. 837 (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 132).

Hagbarðr ‘Hagbarðr’

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Hagbarðr (noun m.): Hagbarðr

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[7] Hagbarðr: The famous legendary king, son of Hámundr, brother of Haki (mentioned in l. 8 below) and the lover of Signý Sigarsdóttir, whose story is told in a number of sources (e.g. Yng, ÍF 26, 43, Vǫls 1965, ch. 9, 45 and Ættartölur in Flat 1860-8, I, 25). Cf. OHG Hagepart, Hackebarth (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 131). His name is also included in the list of heiti for sea-kings (Þul Sækonunga 2/7). The name appears as Hagbarði in a shield-kenning in Eskál Vell 26/8^I. See also RvHbreiðm Hl 29 Note to [All].

Glammi ‘Glammi’

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2. Glammi (noun m.): Glammi

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[7] Glammi: The son of Geitir (Flat 1860-8, I, 22). Glammi and Geitir are mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 1/2, 7 and both names occur in kennings. Glammi m. means ‘clashing one’ (from glamm n. ‘a shrill noise, clash of weapons’). Cf. also glammi ‘noisy one’ as a heiti for ‘wolf’ (Þul Vargs 1/7) and Glammaðr, the name of a berserk in Egils saga einhenda ok Ásmundar berserkjabana (ch. 10, FSN III, 387). See also glǫmmungr m. ‘noise-maker’, a heiti for ‘fish’ (Þul Fiska 3/5).

Haki ‘Haki’

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Haki (noun m.): Haki

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[8] Haki: A legendary sea-king and brother of Hagbarðr (see l. 7 above), but there are several legendary persons of this name. Haki is most likely a nickname (lit. ‘hook’), but cf. OHG Hahico, Haico (Björn Sigfússon 1934, 131). The name occurs in kennings and is also mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 2/7 and in Anon Kálfv 1/4. It is also the name of a giant in Allra flagða þula (Vilhjálms saga sjóðs, Loth 1962-5, IV, 66). See also RvHbreiðm Hl 27 Note to [All], Notes to Anon (FoGT) 24/1 and Anon (SnE) 16/1, as well as Anon (FoGT) 27/1.

Beimuni ‘Beimuni’

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Beimuni (noun m.): Beimuni

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[8] Beimuni: Perhaps identical with Beimi (see Note to l. 4) and/or the daring sea-king Bemonus, a partner of Starkaðr in Gesta Danorum (Saxo 2005, I, 6, 5, 8-10, pp. 382-5). This name also occurs in Saxo Book VIII where Haki and the sons of Bemonus are mentioned among the champions who fought at the battle of Brávellir (Saxo 2005, I, 8, 2, 7, pp. 512-13). The origin of Beimuni is disputed. Nordenstreng (1923, 25-32; see also Björn Sigfússon 1934, 127) connects it with the name of a parish on the southern coast of Finland, Paimio (in the C14th Pemæren, Peymarum), which apparently was a Viking stronghold. According to Nordenstreng, ‑uni could have been a pers. n. (‘Uni from Paimio’), or Beimuni might have been derived from the adj. paimioinen ‘belonging to Paimio’ (for other possible explanations, see ÍO: beimar). The name is also included in Þul Sækonunga 1/4 but does not occur in kennings.

Rakni ‘Rakni’

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Rakni (noun m.): Rakni

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[8] Rakni: Most likely ‘straight one’ (cf. the adj. rakr ‘straight’). The name is a determinant in kennings for ‘sea’ and for ‘ship’, and it is also mentioned in Þul Sækonunga 3/7. Rakni is probably identical with Rakn, son of King Eynefr (cf. Ættartölur in Flat 1860-8, I, 26).