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Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Her-fjöturr

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Definitions

Definitions

1 definitions

1 her-fjöturr her-fjǫturr

m. a mythical term, ‘war-fetter:’ a valiant man who in the stress of battle feels himself spell-bound, and unable to stir, was in old lore said to be caught in a ‘war-fetter;’ this was attributed to the weird sisters of battle (the Valkyrias), as is shewn by the fact that one of them was called Herfjöturr, Shackle, Edda (Gl.); they were the messengers of Odin, by whom the warriors were doomed to death (kjósa val); the passages referring to this lore are Fms. viii. 170, Sturl. ii. 233, Ísl. ii. 104 twice (Harð. S.):—a similar belief appears in the Greek, see Od. xxii. 297 sqq., Iliad xiii. 358–360, xxii. 5 sqq.
Orthography

Orthography

The word "{$word}" can also be spelled as "{$older_form}" in older orthography, where "ö" is represented as "ǫ".

Similar Words

Similar Words

Runic Inscription

Runic Inscription

her-fjöturr

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "her-fjöturr" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).

Abbreviations Used

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

id
idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
l.
Linnæus.
m.
masculine.
S.
South, Southern.

Works & Authors

Edda
Edda. (C. I.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Harð. S.
Harðar Saga. (D. II.)
Od.
Odysseifs-kvæði, prose, 1829.
Sturl.
Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)

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