Ham-ramr

Old Norse Dictionary - ham-ramr

Meaning of Old Norse word "ham-ramr" in English.

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

ham-ramr: adj. a mythical term, able to change one’s shape; in the Sagas it is esp. used of berserkers,—men gifted with supernatural strength or seized with fits of warlike fury (berserks-gangr), vide hamask; but also, though less frequently, referring to hamfarir; hann var h. mjök, he was a great wizard who changed his shape, Landn. 87, 289; hann var h. mjök svá at hann gékk heiman ór Hraunhöfn um kveldit en kom um morgininn eptir í Þjórsár-dal, Landn. 236, 285, 306, Gullþ. 30; þat var mál manna at hann væri mjök h., Eg. 3; allir hinir sterkustu menn ok margir hamramir, 109; þeim mönnum er hamramir vóru eðr þeim er berserks-gangr er á, 125; eigi var þat einmælt at hann væri eigi h., 514:—as a nickname, Vékell hinn hamrami, Landn. 191; Vigi hinn h., Korm. 58; Tanni er kallaðr var hinn hamrami, Ísl. ii. 360,—the MS. has handrami, which is no doubt wrong, as also in the name of the mythical king Hávarðr handrami, Fb. i. 26; cp. hinn Rammi and ramaukinn, Landn. 107, 249, 277, Hdl. 34.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.: adjective.

cp.: compare.

esp.: especially.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

S.: Saga.

þ.: þáttr.

Works & Authors cited:

Eg.: Egils Saga. (D. II.)

Fb.: Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)

Gullþ.: Gull-Þóris Saga. (D. II.)

Hdl.: Hyndlu-ljóð. (A. II.)

Korm.: Kormaks Saga. (D. II.)

Landn.: Landnáma. (D. I.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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