Blóð-örn
Old Norse Dictionary - blóð-örnMeaning of Old Norse word "blóð-örn" (or blóð-ǫrn) in English.
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
- blóð-örn (blóð-ǫrn)
- m. ‘blood eagle,’ in the phrase ‘rísta b.,’ to cut a blood eagle, a cruel method of putting to death in the heathen times, practised, as it seems, only on the slayer of one’s father if taken alive in a battle: the ribs were cut in the shape of an eagle and the lungs pulled through the opening, a sort of vivisection described in Orkn. ch. 8, FaS. i. 293, 354 (Ragn. S.): so king Ella was put to death by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, FmS. iii. 225: it is called a sacrifice to Odin of the victim, cp. the phrase, ok gaf hann Óðni til sigrs sér, Orkn. l. c.; the old rite ‘marka geirsoddi,’ q. v., is analogous, not identical; cp. also upon the subject Grimm D. R. A., and Hm. 139.
Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, blóð-örn may be more accurately written as blóð-ǫrn.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᛚᚢᚦ-ᚢᚱᚾ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- ch.
- chapter.
- cp.
- compare.
- D. R. A.
- Deutsche Rechts-alterthümer by Grimm.
- l.
- line.
- l. c.
- loco citato.
- m.
- masculine.
- n.
- neuter.
- q. v.
- quod vide.
- R.
- Rimur.
- S.
- Saga.
- v.
- vide.
Works & Authors cited:
- Fas.
- Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
- Fms.
- Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
- Hm.
- Hává-mál. (A. I.)
- Orkn.
- Orkneyinga Saga. (E. II.)
- Ragn. S.
- Ragnars Saga. (C. II.)
Also available in related dictionaries:
This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.