Ham-ramr

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Ham-ramr

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

1 ham-ramr

adj. a mythical term, able to change one’s shape; in the Sagas it is esp. used of berserkers,—men gifted with supernatural strength or seized with fits of warlike fury (berserks-gangr), vide hamask; but also, though less frequently, referring to hamfarir; hann var h. mjök, he was a great wizard who changed his shape, Landn. 87, 289; hann var h. mjök svá at hann gékk heiman ór Hraunhöfn um kveldit en kom um morgininn eptir í Þjórsár-dal, Landn. 236, 285, 306, Gullþ. 30; þat var mál manna at hann væri mjök h., Eg. 3; allir hinir sterkustu menn ok margir hamramir, 109; þeim mönnum er hamramir vóru eðr þeim er berserks-gangr er á, 125; eigi var þat einmælt at hann væri eigi h., 514:—as a nickname, Vékell hinn hamrami, Landn. 191; Vigi hinn h., Korm. 58; Tanni er kallaðr var hinn hamrami, Ísl. ii. 360,—the MS. has handrami, which is no doubt wrong, as also in the name of the mythical king Hávarðr handrami, Fb. i. 26; cp. hinn Rammi and ramaukinn, Landn. 107, 249, 277, Hdl. 34.

Runic Inscription

ᚼᛅᛘ-ᚱᛅᛘᚱ

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

adj
adjective.
adj.
adjective.
ch
chapter.
cp
compare.
cp.
compare.
esp
especially.
esp.
especially.
freq
frequent, frequently.
id
idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
l.
Linnæus.
m.
masculine.
n.
neuter.
p.
page.
S.
South, Southern.
þ.
þáttr.

Works & Authors

Eg.
Egils Saga. (D. II.)
Fb.
Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)
Gullþ.
Gull-Þóris Saga. (D. II.)
Hdl.
Hyndlu-ljóð. (A. II.)
Korm.
Kormaks Saga. (D. II.)
Landn.
Landnáma. (D. I.)

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