Þul Sverða 2^III

Skolkr ‘Frightener’

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skolkr (noun m.): frightener

[1] Skolkr: Skolkr ok Tˣ, Skálkr A, Skalkr B

notes

[1] skolkr (m.) ‘frightener’: This word is also listed in Þul Hjálms (skolkr or skólkr, st. 1/5; see Note there). Falk (1914b, 59) adopts the A, B variant skálkr or skalkr (so also the LaufE mss). That word may be a homonym to skálkr m. ‘servant’ (cf. SnE 1998, I, 118, II, 389). Neither variant is used as a heiti for ‘sword’ in poetry.

skerkir ‘noise-maker’

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skerkir (noun m.): Skerkir, noise-maker

[1] skerkir: ‘sker[…]ir’ B, skerkir 744ˣ

notes

[1] skerkir (m.) ‘noise-maker’: An agent noun from a weak verb *skerkja ‘make noise’, from skark n. ‘noise, tumult’. The word is also found as a heiti for ‘fire’ and ‘giant’ (Þul Elds 1/6, Þul Jǫtna I 4/4), but it does not occur elsewhere. It could be that the sword-heiti is used in the sense ‘fire’, because terms for ‘fire’ frequently appear as base-words in sword-kennings.

stúfr ‘stump’

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stúfr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): stump, Stúfr

[1] stúfr: ‘skofr ok’ C

notes

[1] stúfr (m.) ‘stump’: Possibly a short sword or a dagger. Stúfr is also recorded as heiti for ‘ox’ and ‘horse’ (Þul Øxna 2/5 and Þul Hesta 1/8) but never used in Old Norse poetry as a term for ‘sword’, ‘ox’ or ‘horse’. According to Finnur Jónsson (1926-8: stúfr), the word appears frequently in the rímur as a horse-heiti. Based on the C variant ‘skofr’, Finnur Jónsson (Skj B, followed by Skald) and Falk (1914b, 60) emend to skúfr, a poetic term for ‘sword’ (see Arn Hardr 3/5^II and Note there), which Falk connects with skúfr ‘tassel’ (perhaps referring to a decorated hilt). Although attractive, that emendation goes against all other ms. witnesses and is hardly warranted.

Skrýmir ‘Skrýmir’

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skrýmir (noun m.): Skrýmir

notes

[2] Skrýmir: Lit. ‘one large in appearance’. Steinarr Ǫnundarson’s sword in Kormáks saga (Korm ch. 12, ÍF 8, 250-3; cf. Eg ch. 84, ÍF 2, 292). According to Falk (1914b, 59), the name is derived from a verb *skrýma (cf. New Norw. skrymja, ModSwed. skrymma ‘occupy a large space’), while Kahle (1903, 209) assumes that the stem-vowel was short and traces it to skrum n. ‘swaggering talk’ (hence ‘chatterer’). The long stem-vowel is secured by the metre, however. The word does not occur elsewhere as a heiti for ‘sword’, but it is a heiti for ‘giant’ (Þul Jǫtna I 4/3; see Note there) and another name for the giant Útgarðaloki (see SnE 2005, 38-9).

Laufi ‘Laufi’

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Laufi (noun m.; °-a): Laufi

notes

[2] Laufi: The sword owned by the legendary hero Bǫðvarr bjarki (see Note to st. 1/7 above). Laufi may refer to a birch-sheath decorated with golden staples shaped as leaves (cf. lauf n. ‘leaf, foliage’; Falk 1914b, 54). Alternatively, the term might allude to a pattern-welded blade with markings resembling the veins in a leaf (see Fisher and Davidson 1979-80, II, 45 n. 50). The name does not appear in Hrólfs saga kraka, but it is found in Bjarkarímur (Hrólf 1904, 125, 130, 134, 143, 160-1) and is mentioned in Ldn (ÍF 1, 212-13), Þórðar saga hreðu (ch. 2, ÍS III, 2011) and in Saxo (Løui; Saxo 2005, I, 2, 6, 11, pp. 168-9). In skaldic poetry laufi m. is used as a heiti for ‘sword’ in general.

ǫltirr ‘ale-blade’

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ǫltirr (noun m.)

[3] ǫltirr: ‘aultir’ Tˣ, ǫltir A, ‘ockír’ B

notes

[3] ǫltirr (m.) ‘ale-blade’: Not attested elsewhere as a cpd. The first element ǫl ‘ale’ could possibly be the same as alu, a runic word used as a protective formula (see AEW: alu, ǫltirr), and the second element -tirr = tjǫr(r), a poetic term for ‘sword’ or ‘spear’. This could be an enchanted sword marked with magic runes (Falk 1914b, 64). See also ǫlrúnar ‘ale-runes, protective runes’ in Sigdr 7/1 (NK 191).

langbarðr ‘Lombardic [sword]’

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langbarðr (noun m.; °; -ar)

[3] langbarðr: ‘lannbarðr’ A

notes

[3] langbarðr (m.) ‘Lombardic [sword]’: Lit. ‘long-beard’. This was probably originally a term for a sword from Lombardy (Falk 1914b, 54), which became a heiti for ‘sword’ in general. See also langbarðr ‘long-bearded one’ as heiti for Óðinn and ‘serpent’ (Þul Óðins 7/6 and Þul Orma 3/3).

ok ‘and’

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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

[4] ok: om. C

ormþvari ‘serpent-borer’

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ormþvari (noun m.)

notes

[4] ormþvari (m.) ‘serpent-borer’: This sword-heiti does not appear in other Old Norse sources, but the word þvari ‘borer, gimlet, drill’, which originally denoted a short, dagger-like sword (Falk 1914b, 48), is frequent as a second element in personal names (e.g. Dolgþvari, a dwarf in Gylf, SnE 2005, 16, and Blapþvari, a giant in Þul Jǫtna I 3/4). Cf. also Brynþvari, Hrǫngviðr’s sword in Hrómundar saga Greipssonar (FSN II, 366), as well as other heiti with the second element ‑þvari, such as eyþvari (Þul Øxna 1/6). The first element, orm-, may refer to a serpent-like decoration on the hilt (so Falk 1914b, 57). Alternatively, the sword-heiti could be derived from a legendary story about the slaying of a dragon. See also vindþvari (st. 6/4).

Legg ‘Legg’

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leggr (noun m.; °-jar, dat. -; -ir): limb < leggbiti (noun m.): [leg-biter]

notes

[5] Leggbiti: Lit. ‘legbiter’, the name of Magnús berfœttr’s sword in the kings’ sagas (Mork, ÍF 24, 68-9; Hkr, ÍF 28, 235; Fsk, ÍF 29, 314). Mss R, Tˣ, C and B, as well Mork, give the second element as ‑biti, while ms. A, the LaufE mss, Hkr and Fsk have ‑bítr. Leggbiti is used as a common noun in a battle-kenning (Hókr Eirfl 4/6^I); see also Kvernbiti (st. 6/5 below).

biti ‘biti’

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biti (noun m.; °-a; -ar): mouthful, bite < leggbiti (noun m.): [leg-biter]

[5] ‑biti: ‑bítr A

notes

[5] Leggbiti: Lit. ‘legbiter’, the name of Magnús berfœttr’s sword in the kings’ sagas (Mork, ÍF 24, 68-9; Hkr, ÍF 28, 235; Fsk, ÍF 29, 314). Mss R, Tˣ, C and B, as well Mork, give the second element as ‑biti, while ms. A, the LaufE mss, Hkr and Fsk have ‑bítr. Leggbiti is used as a common noun in a battle-kenning (Hókr Eirfl 4/6^I); see also Kvernbiti (st. 6/5 below).

kyrr ‘quiet one’

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kyrr (adj.): calm, quiet

[5] kyrr galmr: so A, ok kyrr R, Tˣ, C, hyrr galmr B

notes

[5] kyrr (m.) ‘quiet one’: Or perhaps kýrr. From the adj. kyrr ‘quiet’, and not otherwise attested as a heiti for ‘sword’. It is unlikely that the heiti has any connection with the bull-heiti Kýrr in Anon Þorgþ II l. 4 (see Falk 1914b, 54). The B variant hyrr m. ‘fire’ must be a lectio facilior (the LaufE mss have ‘kyr-’).

galmr ‘clanging one’

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galmr (noun m.)

[5] kyrr galmr: so A, ok kyrr R, Tˣ, C, hyrr galmr B

notes

[5] galmr (m.) ‘clanging one’: A hap. leg. The heiti is recorded only in mss A and B. The LaufE mss have ‘-gralmur’ (papp10ˣ), ‘-glamur’ (2368ˣ), ‘-galmr’ (743ˣ). In Old Norse, galm(r) is found only in place names (e.g. Galmarstrǫnd). The word is probably a verbal adj. from a verb *galma or *gelma; cf. ModSwed. dialects galma ‘cry’, OHG galm ‘clang’. See also gelmingr ‘clamourer’ (st. 12/1) and ‑gelmir as a second element in giant-names (e.g. Þrúðgelmir and Aurgelmir, Þul Jǫtna I 2/7, 5/5).

ok ‘and’

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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

Leifnis ‘Leifnir’s’

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Leifnir (noun m.): Leifnir < leifnisgrand (noun n.)

notes

[6] Leifnisgrand ‘Leifnir’s injury’: This cpd, which is not attested elsewhere, may be a sword-kenning, from Leifnir, a sea-king (Þul Sækonunga 4/2), and grand n. ‘harm’. The B variant gandr m. ‘magic staff, witchcraft, wolf’ is not supported by the LaufE mss.

grand ‘injury’

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grand (noun n.): injury < leifnisgrand (noun n.)

[6] ‑grand: ‑gandr B

notes

[6] Leifnisgrand ‘Leifnir’s injury’: This cpd, which is not attested elsewhere, may be a sword-kenning, from Leifnir, a sea-king (Þul Sækonunga 4/2), and grand n. ‘harm’. The B variant gandr m. ‘magic staff, witchcraft, wolf’ is not supported by the LaufE mss.

herberi ‘war-striker’

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herberi (noun m.)

[7] herberi Hneitir: so Tˣ, A, B, herberi heitir R, heitir herberi C

notes

[7] herberi (m.) ‘war-striker’: The first element is herr m. ‘host’ (‘war-’ in compounds) and the second is related to the weak verb berja ‘strike, hit’ (cf. also fellir ‘feller’, st. 6/1). The cpd is not found elsewhere.

Hneitir ‘Hneitir’

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hneitir (noun m.): sword

[7] herberi Hneitir: so Tˣ, A, B, herberi heitir R, heitir herberi C

notes

[7] Hneitir: Lit. ‘wounder’. The name of S. Óláfr’s sword (cf. Note to ESk Geisl 43^VII [All]), which is used in skaldic verse as a heiti for ‘sword’ in general. It is an agent noun derived from the weak verb hneita ‘cut, wound’.

ok ‘and’

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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

hræfrakki ‘carrion-spear’

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hræfrakki (noun m.)

[8] hræfrakki: so C, ‘hafrakan’ R, Tˣ, ‘hafraka’ A, B

notes

[8] hræfrakki (m.) ‘carrion-spear’: This variant is found only in C, while the other mss have the obscure forms ‘hafrakan’ (R, Tˣ) or ‘hafraka’ (A, B and the LaufE mss) (perhaps ‘sea-borne one’; see ÍO: hafrakan, hafraka). The C variant is supported by hræfrakki in GSúrs Lv 1/1^V (Gísl 2), although in that stanza hræfrakki is a poetic term for ‘spear’ (see frakka f. ‘Frankish [spear]’, Þul Spjóts l. 7), which was most likely misinterpreted by the compiler of the present þula as a heiti for ‘sword’ (Falk 1914b, 52, 75; ÍF 6, 11 n. 4).