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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Note to Þul Hvala 2III

[7] hrosshvalr (m.) ‘horse-whale’: Cf. OE horshwæl, ModGer. Walross ‘walrus’, and hence the same as rostungr (st. 1/7 above). In Kgs (Holm-Olsen 1983, 16), hrosshvalr is not identified as ‘walrus’, rather, it is described as a fabulous malicious whale, dangerous to men (cf. rauðkembingr ‘red-crest’, st. 1/6). Grágás also distinguishes ros hval (= hrosshvalr), which is unfit for human consumption, from rosmal (= rosmhvalr) ‘walrus’, whose flesh may be eaten except on fasting days (Grg Ia, 36; Bugge 1883, 20-1).

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. Holm-Olsen, Ludvig, ed. 1983. Konungs skuggsiá. 2nd rev. edn. Norrøne tekster 1. Oslo: Norsk historisk kjeldeskrift-institutt.
  3. Grg = Grágás.
  4. Bugge, Sophus. 1883. ‘Oplysninger om nordens oldtid hos Jordanes’. ANF 1, 1-21.
  5. Internal references
  6. Not published: do not cite ()

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