Skjöldungar

Old Norse Dictionary - skjöldungar

Meaning of Old Norse word "skjöldungar" (or skjǫldungar) in English.

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

skjöldungar (skjǫldungar): m. pl. the famous lineage of the kings of Denmark, from Skjöld, the son of Odin, Edda, Yngl. S. The Danish legend derives the name from his being found in infancy in a bed of reeds to which he had floated on a shield; but in fact the name is derived from the ancient Teutonic custom of electing the king by lifting him on a shield in the assembly. Skjöldunga-ætt, f. the kin of the S., FaS. ii. 10.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, skjöldungar may be more accurately written as skjǫldungar.

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

Abbreviations used:

f.: feminine.

gl.: glossary.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

pl.: plural.

S.: Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)

Yngl. S.: Ynglinga Saga. (C. II.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary