Definitions
Definitions
1 HAMALT
n. adj., only in the old phrase, fylkja hamalt, synonymous with svínfylkja, to draw up a wedge-shaped column in the form of a hog’s snout; thus defined, hann hefir svínfylkt her sínum—Hverr man Hringi hafa kennt hamalt at fylkja? (who has taught king Ring to draw up the phalanx of hamalt?) … Hringr hafði svínfylkt öllu liði sínu, þá þótti þó svá þykk fylkingin yfir at sjá, at rani var í brjósti, Ring had drawn all his troops up in a hog-shaped column, so that the ranks looked all the deeper for the snout-formed shape of the front, Fas. i. 380; hildingr fylkti hamalt, a paraphrase from hann fylkti liði sínu svá, at rani var framan á fylkingar-brjóstinu, Fms. xi. 304: used of a column of ships in a sea-fight, vi. 314 (in a verse), cp. also Skv. 2. 23, Fas. ii. 40 (in a verse); a description of the cuneiform column is given in Sks. 384; in Skjöld. S. its invention is attributed to Odin himself, and it was a favourite battle array with the men of old.
Runic Inscription
Runic Inscription
HAMALT
The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "HAMALT" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).