Brísingr

Old Norse Dictionary - brísingr

Meaning of Old Norse word "brísingr"

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

brísingr
m. [cp. Fr. braise], fire, poët.,—an interesting mythol. word, now unknown in Icel., except in the adj. brís-heitr, fire-hot, used in the same connection as fun-heitr, q. v. In Norway brising is any beacon or bale-fire, e. g. Jonsoko-brising = the fire kindled on the 24th of June, (in the Alps called Johannis-feuer.) In olden times the necklace of Freyja was called Brísinga-men, n. the flame-necklace; it was said to be hidden in the deep sea; Loki and Heimdal fought at the rock Singa-stone for this necklace; this ancient legend was represented on the roof of the hall at Hjarðarholt, and treated in the poem Húsdrápa, Ld., Edda.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᚱᛁᛋᛁᚾᚴᚱ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
cp.
compare.
e. g.
exempli gratia.
Fr.
French in etymologies.
Icel.
Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
l.
line.
m.
masculine.
mythol.
mythology, mythologically.
n.
neuter.
poët.
poetically.
q. v.
quod vide.
v.
vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda
Edda. (C. I.)
Fr.
Fritzner’s Dictionary, 1867.
Ld.
Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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