Skjöldungar

Old Norse Dictionary - skjöldungar

Meaning of Old Norse word "skjöldungar" (or skjǫldungar)

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

skjöldungar (skjǫldungar)
m. pl. the famous lineage of the kings of Denmark, from Skjöld, the son of Odin, Edda, Yngl. S. The Danish legend derives the name from his being found in infancy in a bed of reeds to which he had floated on a shield; but in fact the name is derived from the ancient Teutonic custom of electing the king by lifting him on a shield in the assembly. Skjöldunga-ætt, f. the kin of the S., FaS. ii. 10.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, skjöldungar may be more accurately written as skjǫldungar.

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

Abbreviations used:

f.
feminine.
gl.
glossary.
l.
line.
m.
masculine.
pl.
plural.
S.
Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda
Edda. (C. I.)
Fas.
Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
Yngl. S.
Ynglinga Saga. (C. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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