Undercurrent (37 page)

a-viking
–usually a trip to pillage, to bring home riches of other lands.

berserkr
–a rare kind of warrior, usually associated with shape-shifting abilities, immunity to weapons, and extreme rage.

beztr
–better.

dottir
–daughter.

einvigi
–a duel to the death.

faering
–an open rowboat with two pairs of oars, coming from the Old Norse word of feræring, literally meaning “four-ing,” and referring to the number of oars. Could be outfitted with a mast and sail.

Fenrir
–a giant wolf with ties to the end of the cosmos in Norse mythology.

fjord
–a long, narrow inlet with steep sides, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.

futhark
–the runic alphabet.

Grendel
–the famed monster character in Beowulf.

heil
–a greeting like hi.

Hel
–hell.

jarl
–a man of rank, a ruler.

køm
–come.

Kopparigata
–the street of the cup and bowl makers.

langr lifa Rogaland
–long live Rogaland.

minna
–Old Norse: remind; Yorkshire (Jorvik) dialect: a snack that staves off hunger until the main meal of the day.

nafn
–name.

nei
–no.

Niflheim
–literally, “house of mists.” It’s the far northern region of icy fogs and mists, darkness and cold. It is situated on the lowest level of the universe.

rast
–approximately seven miles.

seiðr
–an enchantment or a spell.

shapeshifter
–a creature that can change shape at will, most often human to animal.

sigr Rogalandrs
–victory to the Rogalanders.

skald
–a poet, a teller of tales and singer of songs.

skaldborg
–a ‘shield fort’; a tight group of men whose duty was defense rather than attack.

sköl
–a friendly remark spoken before starting to drink an alcoholic beverage.

slökkva
–to extinguish in the sense of quenching.

spae-wife
–a woman who sees that which is unseen and prophesies.

steinkast
–a stone’s throw.

thrall
–a slave.

trews
–pants, trousers.

Týr
–the god of war in Norse mythology.

velfara
–good-bye.

wergild
–the value of a man’s life, payable to his family by his murderer.

woelmist
–mist of death.

Yggdrasil
–In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil, also called the World Tree, is the giant ash tree that links and shelters all the worlds.