Bjannak

Old Norse Dictionary - bjannak

Meaning of Old Norse word "bjannak" in English.

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

bjannak: n. an απ. λεγ.; þat var háttr hans ef hann (viz. Odin) sendi menn sína til orrostu eðr aðrar sendifarar, at hann lagði áðr hendr í höfuð þeim ok gaf þeim bjannak, trúðu þeir at þá mundi vel farast, Ýngl. S. ch. 11; it is commonly interpreted as benedictio, but it is no doubt the Scot. bannock, from Gael, banagh, an oat-cake; cp. Lat. panis. The whole passage in the Hkr. points to Christian rites and ideas brought into the pagan North, but which are here attributed to Odin, (cp. the breaking of bread and the Eucharist.)

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

Abbreviations used:

απ. λεγ.: απαξ. λεγόμενον.

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

gl.: glossary.

l.: line.

Lat.: Latin.

n.: neuter.

S.: Saga.

Scot.: Scottish.

viz.: namely.

Works & Authors cited:

Hkr.: Heimskringla. (E. I.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Also available in related dictionaries:

This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.