Leikn

Old Norse Dictionary - leikn

Meaning of Old Norse word "leikn" in English.

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

leikn: f. the name of an ogress, perhaps with reference to the ancient belief that sicknesses arise from the being ‘ridden’ by witches, Edda 54 (in a verse), cp. Edda (Gl.); leiknar hestr, the ‘ogress steed,’ poët. the wolf, Hallfred; the Leikin, Vsp. 25, is prob. identical, seið hón leikin, she (the prophetess) worshipped witches (trolls) = she was a sorceress.

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

Abbreviations used:

cp.: compare.

f.: feminine.

l.: line.

poët.: poetically.

prob.: probably.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

Vsp.: Völuspá. (A. I.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary