Þul Dverga 2III/8 — Skirvir ‘Skirvir’
Grímr, Nár, Niði, Níðhǫggr, Dvalinn,
Náinn, Næfr, Nefi, Nífengr ok Dolgr,
Nýráðr ok Nýr, Norðri ok Suðri,
Skáværr, Skáfiðr, Skirvir, Virvir.
Grímr, Nár, Niði, Níðhǫggr, Dvalinn, Náinn, Næfr, Nefi, Nífengr ok Dolgr, Nýráðr ok Nýr, Norðri ok Suðri, Skáværr, Skáfiðr, Skirvir, Virvir.
Grímr, Nár, Niði, Níðhǫggr, Dvalinn, Náinn, Næfr, Nefi, Nífengr and Dólgr, Nýráðr and Nýr, Norðri and Suðri, Skáværr, Skáfiðr, Skirvir, Virvir.
readings
[8] Skirvir Virvir: ‘sk[…]ir v[…]er’ B, ‘skirfir vírfir’ 744ˣ
notes
[8] Skirvir, Virvir: So A and papp10ˣ, whereas the second name is rendered as Vivir in 2368ˣ and 743ˣ. Cf. Vsp 15/5 (NK 4) Scirvir, Virvir and Skirpir, Virpir in Gylf (SnE 2005, 16). Ms. B is now damaged (‘sk[…]ir v[…]ir’), but 744ˣ indicates that the B reading is likely to have been Skirfir Virfir (which are the forms adopted in Skj B and Skald). The first name probably means ‘stump one’ or ‘short one’ (cf. New Norw. skirvel, skjervel ‘stump, cut off’; see ÍO: skirfir). According to Gould (1929, 953), the word refers to a skilful artisan, a ‘joiner who makes herring-bone panelling’ (cf. New Norw. skjerva ‘to make herring-bone panelling’). As to the second name, Gould (1929, 955) explains it as ‘dyer’ (cognate with OFris. verver ‘dyer’; see also Note to Virfill in Þul Sækonunga 5/1 and Þul Hesta 4/8). Virvir may also be derived from *werfia- ‘turn’ and interpreted as ‘crafty, cunning one’ (see ÍO: Virfir). None of these names occurs in other sources.