Land-vættr

Old Norse Dictionary - land-vættr

Meaning of Old Norse word "land-vættr"

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

land-vættr
f. the guardian spirits of a country, abiding in mountains, rivers, etc., in the shape of giants, fairies, animals, see the interesting story in Hkr. Ó. T. ch. 37, as also Landn. 258, (for the references see höfuð A. V); sný ek þessu níði á landvættir þær er land þetta byggja, Eg. 389; þat sá úfreskir menn, at landvættir allar fylgðu Hafrbirni til þings en þeim Þorsteini til veiða ok fiskjar, Landn. 271.

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

Abbreviations used:

ch.
chapter.
etc.
et cetera.
f.
feminine.
n.
neuter.

Works & Authors cited:

Eg.
Egils Saga. (D. II.)
Hkr.
Heimskringla. (E. I.)
Landn.
Landnáma. (D. I.)
Ó. T.
Ólafs Saga Tryggvasonar. (E. I.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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