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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Gsind Hákdr 4I/3 — skýflir ‘destroyer’

Skattgilda vann skyldir
skautjalfaðar Gauta;
gollskýflir vann gjǫflastr
geirveðr í fǫr þeiri.

Skyldir skautjalfaðar vann Gauta skattgilda; gjǫflastr gollskýflir vann geirveðr í þeiri fǫr.

The requisitioner of the sail-bear [SHIP > SEAFARER] made the Gautar tribute-paying; the most generous gold-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] made spear-storms [BATTLES] on that expedition.

readings

[3] ‑skýflir: so F, 61, Bb, ‑skýft , ‑skylfir J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Flat

notes

[3] -skýflir ‘destroyer’: This sense is assumed on the basis of an etymology from skýfa ‘shove’ (cf. Meissner 289; Note to Rv Lv 14/7II). An alternative possibility is that it may derive from a distinct verb skyfla ‘to plunder, rob’ which is frequent in OEN (Fritzner: skyflir; AEW: -skyflt; cf. Meissner 301; ÍF 26), though not directly attested in OWN. The short vowel would be supported by the ModIcel. form -skylm- cited in LP: skýflir. The notion of the active pursuit of treasure would be paralleled in kennings with base-words such as beiðir or sœkir, both ‘pursuer’ (Meissner 290, 305).

kennings

grammar

case: nom.

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