Mara

Old Norse Dictionary - mara

Meaning of Old Norse word "mara" in English.

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

mara: u, f. [Engl. night-mare; akin to merja = to crush]:—the night-mare, an ogress; en er hann hafði lítt sofnat, kallaði hann ok sagði at mara trað hann, menn hans fóru til, ok vildu hjálpa honum, en er þeir tóku uppi til höfuðsins þá trað hón fótleggina svá at nær brotnnðu. þá tóku þeir til fótanna, þá kafði hón höfuðit, svá at þar dó hann, Hkr. i. 20; the word also occurs in one of Kormak’s verses; it is freq. in mod. usage.

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

Similar entries:

Mara (II)

Abbreviations used:

Engl.: English.

f.: feminine.

freq.: frequent, frequently.

gl.: glossary.

l.: line.

mod.: modern.

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.