Category Archives: kennings

bān-cofa

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Hana Videen

bān-cofa, m.n: bone-chamber, a kenning for the body. (BAHN-KOV-ah / ˈbaːn-ˌkɔ-va)

swegel-candel

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Hana Videen

swegel-candel, f.n: ‘sky-candle’, the sun. (SWEH-yell-KAHN-dell / ˈswɛ-jɛl-ˌkan-dɛl)

here-draca

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Hana Videen

here-draca, m/f.n: an arrow (lit. ‘army-dragon’). (HEH-reh-DRAH-kah)

sund-hengest

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Hana Videen

sund-hengest, m.n: ‘sea-horse’, i.e. a ship. (SUND-HENG-gest / ˈsʌnd-ˌhɛŋ-gɛst)

friþ-candel

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Hana Videen

friþ-candel, f.n: ‘peace-candle’, the sun. (FRITH-KAHN-dell / ˈfɹɪθ-ˌkan-dɛl)

flǣsc-hord

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Hana Videen

flǣsc-hord, n.n: ‘flesh-hoard’, the body. (FLASH-HORD / ˈflæːʃ-ˌhɔɹd)

mere-candel

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Hana Videen

mere-candel, f.n: ‘sea-candle’, the sun. (MEH-ruh-KAHN-dell / ˈmɛ-rə-ˌkan-dɛl)

ȳþ-mearh

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Hana Videen

ȳþ-mearh, m.n: a wave-steed, a ship. [UTH-MAY-arh]

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on these “wave-horses”. See it on Patreon.

Miniature of a whale and a sailing boat in a bestiary. England, S. (Salisbury?), 2nd quarter of the 13th century. British Library, Harley MS 4751, f. 69r. [bl.uk]

feorh-hord

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Hana Videen

feorh-hord, n.n: ‘life-treasure’, ‘life-hoard’, the soul or spirit. (FEH-or’h-HORD / ˈfɛɔɹh-ˌhɔɹd)

hwæl-weg

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Hana Videen

hwæl-weg, m.n: the path of the whale, the ocean. (“hwæl- way”)

Bestiary from northern France, 13th century. British Library, Sloane MS 3544, f. 42v. [bl.uk]

For more on medieval whales, see my other blog, Dēor-hord, a medieval and modern bestiary!