Definitions
Definitions
1 GANDR
m.:—the exact sense of this word is somewhat dubious; it is mostly used in poetry and in compds, and denotes anything enchanted or an object used by sorcerers, almost like zauber in Germ., and hence a monster, fiend; thus the Leviathan of northern mythology is called Jörmun-gandr, the great ‘gand;’ or Storðar-gandr, the ‘gand’ of the earth: a snake or serpent is by Kormak called gandr or gandir, Korm. ch. 8: wildfire is hallar g., a worrier of halls, and selju g., a willow-worrier, Lex. Poët.: the wolf Fenrir is called Vonar-gandr, the monster of the river Von, vide Edda.
2 GANDR
COMPDS: Gandálfr, gandfluga, gandrekr, Gandvík, gandreið.
3 GANDR
☞ Some commentators render gandr bv wolf, others by broom; but the sense no doubt lies deeper. Gunnar Pálsson (died 1793) says that gandr is used in Icel. of the helm of a ship; but no such word is known, at least in the west of Icel.
Runic Inscription
Runic Inscription
GANDR
The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "GANDR" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).