Glossary of Terms
Listed below are some potentially unfamiliar words and terms you will encounter in this series of books.
B = Brythonic (Dumnonian). L = Latin. ME = Middle (medieval) English. OE = Old English (Anglo-Saxon). ON = Old Norse.
Addlepate
A foolish or dim-witted person (addle = confused; pate = head). OE.
Aegir
The ill-tempered Lord of the Ocean, God of the sea. Married to the Goddess Ran and father to the Nine Daughters (who are in turn representations of different aspects of the sea). The bringer of storms and big seas, Aegir lives in an underwater hall and from time to time rises to the surface to wreck ships and drag their crews back down to the bottom. Captains and crews make offerings to Aegir prior to a voyage to ensure a safe passage. On some Viking raids, a human sacrifice in the form of a captive might be offered. As with so much of Norse mythology, Aegir’s negative forces are balanced by another sea god, Njord, the bringer of good weather and calm seas. ON.
Aesir
The collective name for many of the principal Norse gods and goddesses, including Odin, Thor, Frigg, Tyr, Loki, Baldur, Heimdall, Idun, and Bragi. Their home is Asgard. ON.
Ætheling
Saxon title of nobility, meaning “crown prince” or heir to the throne. OE.
Airyaman
Airyaman is a Persian yazata (worthy divinity) associated with healing, fellowship, and social bonds. His name likely means “member of the community/tribe,” and he is invoked to cure disease and counter harmful spirits. Persian.
Althing
Also ‘Thing’. The annual assembly of freemen in the fjordlands (and indeed all of Scandinavia), presided over by a law speaker. One of the principal functions of the assembly was to provide a forum in which disputes of law could be aired and settled, political and commercial deals made, and where laws and rules themselves were created and amended by a majority vote of the freemen. It also tended to be the most important social event of the Norse calendar, when all the farmers, traders, craftsmen, storytellers and travellers of the region congregated at the ‘Thingvoll’ (the ‘assembly fields’). They usually ran for many days, and often included contests, games and sometimes quite punishing initiation ceremonies for boys who had declared themselves ready to make the passage into adulthood. The Icelandic parliament, founded in 930AD, is still known as the Althing, and as such claims to be the oldest continuously functioning parliament in the world. ON.
Anglo-Saxon
See entry for ‘Saxon’ below.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is an ancient collection of annals written in Old English that recount the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, most probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great (r. 871–899). The Chronicle is arguably one of the most important source documents for scholars studying the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods in British history. It is especially important because (from Alfred’s time at least) it was a mostly contemporary account of the major political and religious events of the day.
Anzar asabāra
‘Warrior angel.’ Asaf’s name for Saeric/Aneurin. Persian.
Asgard
One of the nine Norse realms, Asgard is located in the highest, sunniest branches of the world-tree Yggdrasil. It is home to the Aesir community of gods. Valhalla, the ‘hall of the slain’, is located here. It lies on a plane above Midgard (realm of the mortal humans), and the two are connected by a magical rainbow bridge called Bifrost. ON.
Asturian
A person from the kingdom of Asturias (present-day northern Spain).
Bacraut
Norse slang meaning ‘arsehole.’ ON.
Baedling
An effeminate man. OE.
Bairn
‘Baby.’ This is actually the Scottish spelling, from the original ON ‘barn.’
Baldur
(Also ‘Baldr’, ‘Balder’) Norse god of light, joy, purity, and the summer sun. Baldur is the son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg. He has numerous brothers, including Thor. He is known for his exceptional beauty in both spirit and body, being handsome, strong, gracious, cheerful and just. The perfect man, some might say. ON.
Beck
Norse word for stream. Still commonly found in the names of watercourses in the north of England. From ON, bekkr.
Berserker
Berserkers (or Berserks) were much-feared champion Norse warriors who are said to have fought in a trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. They would charge into battle with no armour (‘bare-chested’), sometimes wearing animal pelts (bear and wolf being common). There is therefore some debate about the literal Norse meaning: either ‘bare-skin’, ‘bare of shield’, or ‘bear-skin.’ ON.
Biċċe
OE profanity: ‘bitch.’
Blóð
Blood. ON.
Brazier
A container, usually fashioned from iron and often with legs, intended to hold a fire. Normally found in large spaces such as halls, they are designed to provide both heat and light. They were used by all peoples across Europe during the Viking age and beyond (you will find them in beer gardens even today) and come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. The braziers used on Sigvald’s ship were about the size of a large bucket, made from iron and standing at about hip height on three legs. Being fashioned in such a way that heat could escape from the sides as well as the top, they were not particularly safe, as burning wood and embers could fall onto the floor or deck.
Breiddjame
ON profanity: ‘son of a whore.’
Bretlander
A British person. ON.
Bróðir
Brother. ON.
Burh / Burg
OE word meaning fortified place or fort. Also spelt ‘Burg’ in some sources. A modern town name that contains the element burg, burgh, bury or borough hints at a fortified past.
By / Byr
ON word meaning ‘farmstead,’ ‘hamlet,’ or ‘village,’ but can also be applied to larger settlements. In virtually all cases, it appears as a suffix to a name, such as ‘Sigvaldsby,’ meaning: ‘Sigvald’s place.’ In Britain, there are thousands of place names ending in ‘by’, which indicates a Scandinavian origin or influence. ON.
Byre
Not to be confused with the Norse word ‘byr’, a byre is a building in which farm animals are housed, particularly cattle. Strictly speaking, it is actually a British term, meaning ‘cowshed.’ An equivalent Norse word is ‘hlaða,’ meaning barn.
Calefactory
The calefactory (also called a warming house or warming room) was the heated room in a Benedictine monastery where monks could warm themselves in winter. Usually set off the cloister near the refectory or kitchen, it had the community’s main fireplace or braziers; often the only place (besides the kitchen) with a fire. In cold months, it might double for tasks needing warmth (e.g., mending, limited script work). L from calefacere “to make warm.”
Cantor
In a Benedictine monastery, the cantor (often called the precentor) was the monk in charge of the chant and liturgy. He led the choir in the Divine Office and Mass, trained younger monks in plainsong, kept and corrected the service books, assigned psalms and readings, organised processions and feast-day music, and ensured the daily offices ran smoothly. L.
Catamitus / Catamite
A kept boy (from “Ganymede”). Not strictly “prostitute,” but a sexual dependent. L.
Ceorl / Churl / Carl / Karl
All variations of a term meaning an Anglo-Saxon freeman of the lowest class, ranking below a thegn. OE.
Capitulum / Chapter House
In a Benedictine monastery, the capitulum, or chapter house, was the community’s council room—usually opening off the cloister—where the monks met daily to hear a chapter of the Rule of St Benedict (hence the name) and to conduct business. There they confessed faults (the “chapter of faults”), received penances, heard announcements and obituaries, assigned obediences (duties), discussed house affairs, elected officers, and sometimes received important visitors and news. It was one of the few places where the monks were allowed to speak (whereas silence was preferred elsewhere in the monastery).
Charcoal-eater
A disparaging term used by the Vikings to describe a person who prefers the safety of home life rather than choosing the more glorious (and manly) path to raiding and fighting. The charcoal refers to the coals of the hearthfire to which the coward is unhealthily attached. A homeboy. ON.
Chevalier
Frankish term for a mounted warrior, eventually becoming ‘knight’. F.
Cloister / Cloister garth
A cloister is the enclosed, usually square or rectangular, courtyard at the heart of a monastery, surrounded on all sides by covered arcaded walks. It links the church, chapter house, refectory, and dormitory, and serves as the monks’ processional way, place for reading, meditation, and quiet work, and a physical symbol of enclosure and contemplative life. The central garth (garden/lawn) often held a well or herb beds; the walks gave sheltered passage in all weather and kept the community’s life inward-facing.
Commixtion
The act of sexual intercourse. L
Dalcop
Saxon word meaning ‘numbskull.’ OE.
Dale
From Norse ‘dalr’, meaning valley. ON. A commonly found term in Northern England (e.g. Yorkshire Dales, Emmerdale).
Daufi
Norse slang meaning ‘stupid.’ ON.
Distaff
A distaff is a staff used in hand-spinning to hold unspun fibres—typically flax or wool—so the spinner can draw (draft) the fibres smoothly while twisting them with a spindle. In the Norse context, a staff akin to a distaff appears in seiðr (sorcery) imagery; völur (sorceresses) are sometimes depicted with a staff used in ritual as well as for symbolism—spinning the threads of fate.
Dormitory
In a Benedictine monastery, the dormitory (or dorter) was the communal sleeping hall for the monks. Typically, it was an upper-storey room running the length of a range off the cloister—often over the chapter house or warming room—with pallets or simple beds set in rows. A night stair led directly from the dormitory into the church so the community could rise in darkness for the Night Office (Matins). Silence was kept, a lamp burned, and clothing was usually slept in for modesty and readiness.
Drakkar
ON meaning ‘dragon ship’ (a posh longship).
Draug
ON name for a monster of the night; an undead creature possessing superhuman strength, often guarding a treasure hoard. Plural = draugar.
Dreng
Norse word for young man/warrior. Plural = drengir. ON.
Drittsekk
Old Norse slang, literally meaning ‘bag of shit.’ Our equivalent is ‘scumbag.’ ON.
Ealdorman
Anglo-Saxon term. An ealdorman was a high-status individual in Saxon times, appointed by the king as his representative. They were originally drawn mostly from ancient and powerful families and commanded armies on behalf of the king. Thegns (a lower rank) served the ealdormen.
Easter heresy
Also known these days by the less-divisive term ‘Easter Controversy,’ this refers to the ever-moving event that is Easter Sunday. This important day in the Christian calendar generally falls on a different date every year, and in the case of some branches of Christianity, even a different date in the same year. I won’t go into detail here, other than to say that arguments between different Christian denominations about how to calculate the date of Easter Sunday have been ongoing for more than 1,700 years and remain unresolved to this day. In the context of the Wolves saga, the Celtic Church (followed by the Dumnonians) disagrees with their Saxon (Roman) Church counterparts on the setting of the date, and the West Saxons (who of course believe they are right) claim that their British counterparts are therefore heretics. These are sufficient grounds for war and invasion.
Eir
Eir (Old Norse Eir, “mercy/help”) is a Norse deity/figure associated with healing. Scholars often see Eir as a personification of medical skill and merciful aid, invoked for recovery from illness and safe childbirth. Whether a distinct goddess or healing Valkyrie, her domain is clear: remedy, protection, and the grace that restores. ON.
Equerry
An officer of the household of a prince or noble who has charge over the stables. Actually a medieval French term, probably derived from Latin ‘Equus’ (horse). ME.
Ergi
Norse word (definitely a slur) describing the recipient of a homosexual act. Homosexuality was at best frowned upon in Scandinavian culture during the Viking Age, but one thing we do know from the writings preserved in the sagas is that being the recipient of a homosexual act was a cause for severe derision; not because it was seen as perverted, but because it was regarded as the ultimate act of submission. That Viking raiders earned a reputation in history for raping and pillaging was for good reason: according to the sagas it was perfectly acceptable for a Viking man to rape both women and men during a raid, as this was considered a powerful demonstration to their victims that they had been well and truly vanquished. (A number of coarse phrases still used today are derived from this act). Such sexual humiliation of enemies was one of the less pleasant characteristics of Norse culture, so any man who chose to be humiliated in such a way by another man was seen as cowardly, submissive, unfit to be a leader, and likely to be easily subverted by an enemy. However, it does appear to have been acceptable or at least tolerable for a gay Viking to have kept male slaves for sexual gratification, provided two requirements were met: (1) the slaves were the recipients of their master’s bidding (and not the other way around); and (2) the man nevertheless married and had children; the latter being very important in Norse society. ON.
Erlendar
Foreign, not native. ON.
Estren
Dumnonian term meaning “stranger, alien, or foreign.” B.
Fæn ta deg
ON profanity, literally meaning ‘the devil take you!’, or more crudely, ‘f*ck you!’ ON.
Færing
ON word for an open rowing boat with two pairs of oars, sometimes carrying a removable mast and sail. (ON = ‘Four-oared’).
Feilan
Wolf cub. ON.
Fell
Norse word for ‘mountain.’ Still used today by Cumbrians to describe the mountains in the English Lake District. From ON ‘fjall’.
Fenrir
The most fearsome of the Norse wolven monsters, father of the wolves Sköll and Hati. He is the ‘great devourer’ who, at the commencement of Ragnarök, breaks free of his bonds and runs throughout the world with his lower jaw against the ground and his upper jaw in the sky, consuming everything in his path. He kills the god Odin before finally being killed himself by one of Odin’s avenging sons, Víðarr. ON = “Fen-dweller.”
Fjándinn
ON word meaning ‘foe’, or ‘the enemy’.
Fjord
ON word describing a long, deep, narrow seawater inlet with steep sides or cliffs, originally created by a glacier scouring a pathway through the landscape to the sea. When the ice melted and the glaciers retreated, the gouges filled with seawater to create the fjords. The entire west coast of Norway is deeply cut by fjords (many of which pierce scores of kilometres inland), resulting in a unique and spectacular landscape. Sognefjorden, where Rathulf and the main players in this book live, is exceedingly deep at 1,308m (4,291 feet), and stretches just over 200 kilometres inland from its mouth. On the other side of the world, the South Island of New Zealand also boasts a smaller number of similarly impressive fjords, as does Chile.
Fjordlands
In this series of novels, the area that comprises the southwestern edge of Norway, stretching from modern-day Stavanger north up to Trondheim. In Rathulf’s day, anything beyond Trondheim was so cold, remote and full of monsters that no one with any sense would venture there.
Fletching
The feathers on the tail of an arrow. OE.
Fostri / Fostra
ON word for Foster-father and foster-mother, respectively. Fostering teenagers was very common in the Viking Age.
Frank / Frankish
A person or thing that comes from Francia (i.e. the kingdoms that make up modern-day France). OE.
Fylgja
A spirit that accompanies a person in connection to their fate or fortune, and which often represents some aspect of the person’s character. Usually a carnivorous animal. Similar in concept to the ‘totem’ animal found in other cultures’ belief systems. Rathulf’s fylgja is, unsurprisingly, a wolf. Pl Fylgjar. ON.
Fyrd
An early Anglo-Saxon term, describing an army that was mobilised by the local lord from amongst his freemen to defend their estate or shire in times of trouble or war. The Saxon kings had their own fyrd too, who were select representatives from the higher levels of Saxon society and who would join him on royal expeditions. OE.
Gambeson
A thick, padded coat worn under armour. Also spelt Gambison. ME.
Ganymede
A myth-derived term used in medieval times as a euphemism for a male beloved or catamite—typically a boy or young man kept by an older man. It drew on the myth of Zeus abducting Ganymede and was usually pejorative in moral or legal texts. From Greek.
Garth / garð
ON word meaning a fenced yard or clearing, often enclosing a dwelling.
Geck
ON word meaning ‘fool’, ‘idiot’, ‘imbecile’.
Gefion
An ancient Norse goddess of agriculture, fertility, abundance, and prosperity. Her name is derived from the Old Norse verb gefa, “to give,” and her name can be translated as “Giver” or “Generous One.” ON.
Geri and Freki
Two wolven companions of the great Norse God Odin. (ON, meaning ‘greedy one’ and ‘ravenous one’ respectively). Generally good omens, and called upon in battle to lend a Viking warrior strength and vigour. ON.
Göll
One of the Valkyries, whose name means “Tumult” or “battle noise”. ON.
Grisskítr
ON profanity, meaning ‘hogshit.’ ON.
Gryphon
Also spelt Griffin or Griffon. A mythical beast: half-lion, half-eagle. Commonly seen on medieval coats of arms, including Sherborne’s. OE.
Hagalaz
In Norse mythology, the rune Hagalaz is also known as the Destroyer, the rune of inevitable upheaval. The symbol of Ragnarök, chaos, the end of the world. Hagalaz is the hailstone, the bringer of change, representing the storm that must come. It represents transformation and rebirth. ON.
Harem
A domestic space that is reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. In the 9th century, during the era of slavery across the world, harems also housed enslaved concubines (scorta in Latin), of which Asaf was one in the royal household of Cordoba. In wealthier households, harems were guarded by eunuchs who were allowed inside as they presented no ‘danger’ to the women. P.
Hauberk
A shirt of mail, usually reaching at least to mid-thigh and including sleeves. ME.
Hávamál
ON word meaning “sayings of the high one.” Attributed to Odin, the Hávamál is a collection of Norse poems from Viking Age Iceland. They are effectively Norse proverbs, providing advice about good living, proper conduct and other general wisdom about how to be a good Viking.
Heimskingi / Heimskr
ON word meaning ‘idiot’ or ‘simpleton.’
Hel
The goddess of death, who presides over a realm of the same name; the place where people who die of old age and sickness go. Her face and upper body are those of a living woman’s, but her thighs and legs are those of a corpse’s, mottled and mouldering or rotting away. Hence the curse: ‘May you rot between Hel’s thighs.’ ON.
Helheim
In Norse mythology, Helheim is the realm of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel, a daughter of Loki. It’s a cold and dark place, often described as being within Niflheim, one of the nine worlds, and a place where souls go after death, though not necessarily a punishment. ON.
Hestkuk
ON slur literally meaning ‘horse cock.’
Hnefatafl
Probably the most popular Viking board game of Rathulf’s time, ‘hnefatafl,’ or just ‘tafl,’ was a strategy game played on a latticed board which featured two opposing armies of warriors, in which the king and his guard start in the centre of the board, and the opposing army–who outnumber his force by 2 to 1–surround him. The king’s objective is to escape to one of the board’s corners, whilst the surrounding army’s aim is to capture him. The name ‘hnefatafl’ possibly derives from “board game of the fist”, from hnefi (“fist”) + tafl (“board game”) where “fist” refers to the central king-piece. ON.
Hodr / Hod
The blind god of winter. ON.
Holmgang
A holmgang (Old Norse hólmganga, “island-walk/going to the islet”) was a formal duel in Viking-Age Scandinavia and Iceland used to settle serious disputes, such as honour insults, property claims, even inheritance. The parties agreed on the time, place, and weapons (which could range from bare hands to swords, spears and axes). Witnesses were called to observe the contest to ensure fairness and honour in the fight and its outcome. Victory could be by wounding, disarming, forcing a step out, or killing. Refusing a lawful challenge risked outlawry or loss of honour or claim. ON.
Hospitium
The hospitium in a Benedictine monastery was the guest house; the place where travellers and pilgrims were received, fed, and lodged. Following the Rule of St. Benedict (“All guests are to be received as Christ,” ch. 53), it was usually set outside or at the edge of the cloister near the gatehouse to keep the monastic enclosure intact. A guest-master (hospitaller) oversaw it, arranging meals, beds, and courtesies. The term ‘hospitality’ derives from this function. L.
Horningsunu
British insult meaning ‘son of a whore.’ B.
Hrísungr
Old Norse insult meaning a “scrubling”—a derogatory term for a child conceived while the father was outlawed, i.e., begotten out in the brush/forest. Such children were disqualified from inheritance. It is closely related in sense to vargdropi (“wolf droppings”), another slur for an outlaw’s child. The old Swedish version is Rishofþe. ON.
Huglausi
Cowardly. ON.
Huldra or Hulder
In Norse mythology, a huldra was a seductive forest nymph seeking to lure men into their clutches. Some traditions depict her with a long cow’s or fox’s tail that she hides under her skirt. If she marries in a church, her tail falls off, and she becomes human. ON.
Húskarl
Norse, literally meaning ‘house man’, referring to any freeman in a Norse household, often used to describe a personal guard/bodyguard. OE version of the same thing = huscarl. ON.
Hvergelmir
Old Norse meaning: “roaring/boiling cauldron”, Hvergelmir is the primordial spring in the realm of Niflheim, beneath one of Yggdrasil’s roots. In Norse cosmology, it is the origin of all waters, and the source of numerous rivers. ON.
Illgæti
Illgæti (also written ill-gæti) is an Old Norse word meaning “bad fare / poor food,” i.e., meagre or ill-quality nourishment. It’s used for scanty rations or rough, unhealthy fare. ON.
Infirmarer
The monk or nun responsible for tending to the physical health of their fellow brethren or sisters, as well as the surrounding lay community. A ‘jack of all trades’ physician, much like a modern general practitioner (GP). L.
Infirmary
In a medieval monastery, the infirmary (often called the infirmarium) was the part of the monastery set aside for the sick, elderly, and convalescent monks and commoners. Our equivalent of a modern hospital. It was usually located off the cloister but somewhat apart to protect the community from illness and noise. It was run by the infirmarer (infirmarius), who oversaw care, diets, medicines, and records of his or her patients. L.
Isa
Norse rune in the Elder Futhark, meaning “ice,” symbolised by a single vertical stroke. Its core meaning is stasis, standstill, obstacles, containment, preservation. In a reading, it calls for restraint, self-control, focus; also isolation, frigidity, blocked movement. ON.
Jævela
ON profanity: ‘f**king.’
Járnsaxa
A particularly fearsome Jötunn giantess, who seduces the God Thor. ON.
Jötunheim
ON, literally meaning “land of the giants”.
Jörmungand
ON, literally meaning “huge monster”, Jörmungand is a giant sea-serpent, the most feared of all sea-monsters, who in Norse mythology is so large that he encircles the earth and grasps his tail in his mouth. It is said that when he releases his tail, Ragnarök (the great battle at the end of everything) will begin. Jörmungand is an arch-enemy of the god Thor.
Jötunn
In Norse mythology, a race of giant nature spirits with superhuman strength. Trolls belong to the Jötunn race. Their name means “devourer”. ON.
Jötnar
A group of Jötunn. Generally something best avoided. ON.
Jötnahreðr
A Jötunn’s penis.
Karve
An inshore pleasure craft; a yacht. Wealthy Norsemen used them to show off, and some were very ornately carved (carving was the bling of the day) and very much prized. Much like the supercars of wealthy young footballers and social media stars today. ON.
Kernowyon
The Brythonic term for the people of Kernow (modern-day Cornwall). B.
Kist
From ON ‘kista,’ being a chest or trunk for storing clothing or linen. Still used in those parts of Britain that were settled by the Scandinavians (e.g. Cumbria, Yorkshire, Scotland).
Knarr
ON word for a cargo ship, essentially the same open-decked design as a longship but with wider and deeper sides suitable for carrying cargo across the open seas. Also spelt Knørr in some sources.
Konungsefni
ON nickname meaning ‘king’s equal’.
Kuk
ON slang meaning ‘cock.’
Kuksuger
ON slur meaning ‘cock-sucker.’
Kukskalle
ON slur meaning ‘dick-head.’
Kuktryne
ON slur meaning ‘cock-face.’
Lazar / Lazar House
OE term for leper. A lazar house (also leper house/leprosarium) was a medieval hospital set up to isolate and care for people with leprosy (and sometimes other chronic skin diseases). Named for St Lazarus, it usually stood outside town walls or along major roads, with its own chapel, wards, kitchen, and cemetery, and was often run by religious orders or endowed by towns and nobles. OE.
Librarium
In a medieval monastery, the librarium was the place where books were kept, issued, and repaired. In most early houses it was not a grand room but a set of book cupboards or presses (often along the cloister, called the armarium). The monk in charge—the armarius (often also the precentor/cantor)—managed the catalogue, lent a book to each monk at Lent, oversaw copying and binding, and saw to the care of service books. The scriptorium (where book copying happened) might adjoin the librarium, but was a distinct working space. L.
Liðasblot
Viking late summer (harvest) festival, giving thanks to Urda (Ertha) for her bounty. A “Blot” represents an offering made to the gods. It can take the form of an animal, food, or other goods. In Norse rituals, the people accept and eat the offering. Therefore, a feast is usually associated with a Blot. ON.
Langskip / Longship
The Viking warrior’s sleek means of passage to the southern lands for raiding. ON = ‘Langskip.’
Loki
Loki is the Norse myths’ shape-shifting trickster: a complex, clever, volatile figure who both aids and endangers the gods. He is an instigator and fixer; sometimes getting the gods into trouble (e.g., cutting Sif’s hair, plotting Baldr’s death) but just as often out of it (e.g., tricking dwarves into forging treasures like Mjölnir). ON.
Lombungr
ON for ‘moron’.
Magister noviciorum
The magister noviciorum (Latin: “master of novices”) is the monk responsible for the care, oversight and spiritual formation of novices in a monastery. The master of novices organises classes, assigns readings/work, corrects faults gently but firmly, and models monastic life. L.
Maðr
Old Norse word meaning “man, person, human being”; also “husband,” “warrior/fellow,” depending on context. Pronunciation: roughly marthr (ð = voiced “th” as in this). ON.
Midgard
‘Middle Earth’: the place where mortal humans live. The Norse believed that the universe comprised nine worlds or realms, of which Midgard was one. ON.
Mimir
In Norse mythology, Mímir was a figure renowned for his immense wisdom and was the keeper of Mímir's Well, the well of knowledge located at the root of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. He was associated with remembering and recollection. ON.
Mooncalf
The result of a monstrous birth. The term derives from the formerly widespread superstition, present in many European folk traditions, that such malformed creatures were the product of the sinister influence of the Moon on foetal development.
Muspelheim
One of the two primordial Norse realms, Muspelheim is the Realm of Fire, land of the fire giants. Not a very nice place. The embers from the fires of Muspelheim formed the stars in the night sky. ON.
Mynster / mynster / minster
In the 9th century, a mynster was a monastic settlement, centred around a church, in which the community devoted their life to Christian observance. A mynster may have been either a community of monks (male) or nuns (female). Over time, these monastic settlements often grew into towns in their own right, as the monasteries grew in wealth and stature. Scirburne (Sherborne) is one such example. The modern term ‘Minster’ to describe a very important church (e.g. Westminster) is derived from this term. OE.
Náströnd
In Norse mythology, Náströnd (“The Shore of Corpses”) is part of the underworld of Hel where perjurers, murderers, adulterers and oath-breakers are punished. ON.
Nidhogg
The literal meaning of its name being ‘Malice-striker,’ Nidhogg is a mythological Norse dragon/serpent monster, who gnaws at a root of the world tree, Yggdrasil. Nidhogg is also said to preside over a part of the underworld called Náströnd (“The Shore of Corpses”). ON.
Niflheim
One of the two primordial Norse realms, Niflheim is the realm of ice and cold, with the frozen river of Elivágar and the well of Hvergelmir, from which come all the rivers. It is the abode of the Goddess Hel, who presides over those poor Viking souls who are unfortunate enough not to die a heroic or notable death (and thus were refused entry into Valhalla). ON.
Night Mara
The Mara are female changelings (trolls or demons) of the night who delight in sneaking through the tiniest cracks into their victims’ homes and tormenting them with frightening dreams. From this is derived our modern term ‘nightmare.’ ON.
Nine daughters
These are the nine daughters of Ægir and Rán, a giant and goddess who both represent the sea in Norse mythology. The names of the nine daughters are poetic terms for different characteristics of ocean waves, such as ‘frothing wave,’ and ‘foam-fleck’.
Nine Realms
The Norse cosmos was made up of nine realms, which were worlds threaded on the world-tree Yggdrasil, linked by roots, branches, and the Bifröst bridge. Asgard (realm of the Aesir gods); Midgard (earth, realm of the humans); Helheim; Niflheim; Jötunheim are examples of those realms.
Nisean
Now-extinct breed of warhorse from the Middle East (Persia). They were highly sought after in the ancient world, and the Nisean was the mount of the nobility in ancient Persia. The closest living relative is thought to be the Akhal-Teke breed from Turkmenistan. The Persian heavy cavalry used these armoured horses to great effect, and Sigvald really did sail all the way to Constantinople to purchase the beast (along with his Persian stablemaster Myran) for Rathulf.
Njǫrd / Njörðr
Njǫrd is a god among the Vanir. He was the Norse god of the wind and of the sea and its riches. His aid was invoked in seafaring and in hunting, and he was considered the god of “wealth-bestowal,” or prosperity. He was the father of Freyr and Freyja by his own sister. ON.
Njörun
Njörun is the Norse goddess of dreams and of the night to the dwarves and Dark Elves of Svartalfaheim (ON literally ‘home of the black elves’). ON.
Nøkkar
Shape-shifting, dangerous night spirits that lure their victims into lakes and rivers to drown. ON.
Norn / Nornir
In Norse belief, the Nornir were the three sisters of fate: Urðr (What-Was), Verðandi (What-Is), and Skuld (What-Should/Could-Be). They are fate’s weavers, tending the well by Yggdrasil’s roots and shaping every life’s “thread.” They don’t simply predict; they set the measure of kings and thralls alike, allotting fortune, lifespan, and doom. Skalds and saga-heroes speak of their weaving, carving, or casting lots to explain sudden turns of luck, narrow escapes, or destined deaths. Though even gods feel their pull, the Norns aren’t malicious. Rather, they embody the order and inevitability of the cosmos through an austere wisdom before which courage, honour, and good repute are a person’s only answer. ON.
Norse / Norsemen / Northman
The name of the people who lived during the Viking Age primarily in the area covered by modern-day Norway and Iceland (but also settlers in Western Britain and Ireland who originally hailed from Norway). The term ‘northman’ is one of the many names used by the medieval historians to describe the Viking raiders from the North. Latinized as ‘Nortmannus’ (recorded in Medieval Latin, 9th century).
Nótt
Norse goddess and personification of the night. ON.
Odin
In Norse mythology, Odin is the father of all gods and men. He is associated with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, battle, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and is the husband of the goddess Frigg. His two ravens, Huginn and Munin (Norse, meaning ‘thought’ and ‘memory’ respectively) fly over the world daily and return to tell him everything that has happened in Midgard. He is also accompanied by two wolves, Geri and Freki (Norse, meaning ‘greedy one’ and ‘ravenous one’ respectively).
Office / Divine Office
The monastic term for a church service. The Benedictine monastic offices, also known as the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours, are a structured pattern of prayer that Benedictine monks and nuns follow throughout the day (as is the case for both St Columba’s and St Aldhelm’s. There were typically seven (7) offices in the daily cycle of prayer:
Matins/Vigil (Night Prayer): Often referred to as Nocturn, this office marks the beginning of the liturgical day, typically before sunrise. It’s a time of praise, reflection, and preparation for the day ahead.
Lauds (Morning Prayer): Sung in the early morning, Lauds is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for the Lord’s blessings.
Prime (Sunrise): This hour, often recited at sunrise, offers an opportunity to begin the day with a prayer of supplication and thanksgiving.
Terce (Mid-Morning): Celebrated around 9 a.m., Terce is a time for reflection on the day’s work and a prayer for guidance and strength.
Sext (Midday): Held around noon, Sext focuses on the Lord’s presence and provides a moment for prayer and refreshment.
None (Mid-Afternoon): Celebrated around 3 p.m., None offers a time for contemplation and reflection on the events of the day.
Vespers (Evening Prayer): Sung at sunset, Vespers is a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the Lord’s mercies and blessings throughout the day.
Compline (Bedtime): This is the last office of the day, recited before retiring to bed, and is a prayer of supplication and thanksgiving for the day’s events and a preparation for sleep.
Note the times are approximate and varied with the seasons, as monasteries in the 9th C relied primarily on sundials to keep time.
Orka
In the context of Norse mythology and the broader concept of personal energy and strength, “orka” refers to the power or energy needed to accomplish something, to withstand challenges, or to simply move forward. It was believed that a person could lend their orka to another in times of stress and need. ON.
Ótta
The time of the day roughly from 3:00 am to 6:00 am. ON.
Qlfuss
ON word for a drunkard.
Penning
A unit of Saxon currency. Equivalent being a ‘penny’. OE.
Pezešk
In ancient Persia, the pezešk (physician) was a learned healer who combined bedside craft with philosophical medicine. Trained in texts and apprenticeship, he diagnosed by observation, pulse, and urine, treated through diet, regimen, drugs, and surgery, and aimed to restore humoral balance. Persian.
Pikk
ON slang meaning ‘dick.’
Prior
In a Benedictine monastery, the prior is the abbot’s deputy. He is second-in-command, responsible for the day-to-day running of the house and the observance of the Rule. He oversees discipline and work, coordinates the obedientiaries (office-holders), assigns duties, and presides when the abbot is absent. L.
Rævpuler
ON slang (very crude) for a gay person.
Ragnarök / Ragnarøkkr
The Norse “Fate of the Gods” or “Twilight of the Gods” respectively, culminating in a final great battle between the forces of good and evil, and in which the world is destroyed, and a new world order is born. ON.
Ragr
ON word meaning ‘unmanly’ or ‘cowardly.’
Ran
In Norse mythology, the goddess Rán and the jötunn Ægir both personify the sea, and together they have nine daughters who personify waves. Each daughter’s name reflects poetic terms for waves. ON.
Rassgat
Norse slang translating to ‘arsehole.’ Literally arse gate. ON.
Rasshull
Alternative Norse slang translating to ‘arsehole.’ ON.
Rassragr
Norse slang (very crude) for a man who allowed himself to be sodomised. Literally means ‘arse-unmanly.’ This was one of the most grievous insults that could be dealt in Viking times. ON.
Refectory
The refectory, sometimes called a frater-house, was the monastery’s communal dining hall, where monks (or nuns in the case of a nunnery) ate together in silence or while a reader recited Scripture or edifying texts. It enforced the Benedictine Rule’s rhythm of shared meals, moderation, and discipline, with simple fare, fixed seating, and rituals like handwashing and blessings before and after eating. L.
Reredorter
The reredorter was the monastery’s latrine block, usually set at the far end of the dormitory range and reached by a passage from the monks’ or nuns’ sleeping hall. Built over a running drain (or stream) to flush waste, it provided communal seats and basic sanitation while keeping smells and filth away from the cloister. L.
Rood
“By the rood” is an archaic oath, meaning “by the cross” or “I swear on Christ’s cross”. The word “rood” itself is an old English word for a cross (literally from Old English rōd or ‘pole’), and by extension, it can refer to the crucifix on a rood screen in a church or even the True Cross of Christ’s crucifixion. OE.
Runes / Runestones
The Scandinavians did have a written alphabet – known as the runic alphabet, or fuþark – despite not being avid recorders of their exploits in the same way as other European cultures of the time (for example by the monks of Wessex and Francia in Latin). Instead, the Northmen tended to use their runic alphabet to put names on things, to record places of burial, or to commemorate a significant person or event. Some sources also suggest that the runes were also used for divination and fortune-telling, both of which were everyday activities in Rathulf’s time. In the absence of modern science, divine influences were sought to explain most everything that existed and happened in day-to-day life.
Saga
In the Norse context, a saga is a prose narrative; originally recounted orally by “skalds” (storytellers), and later written down in Iceland (c. 12th–14th centuries). The sagas recount lives and deeds in a spare, matter-of-fact style. Drawn from oral tradition, sagas weave genealogy, law, feuds, voyages, and honour codes, often punctuated by verses. Much of what we know today about Norse culture is informed by the written sagas from medieval Iceland. ON.
Sansorthinn / Sansorðinn
An extremely offensive insult in Norse–considered by many to be the most offensive slur possible–meaning the receiver of a homosexual act. ON.
Sard / Sarð / sarding
OE profanity, predating the word ‘f*ck’ but having the same meaning. F*cking. OE.
Saxon / Anglo-Saxon / Seaxan
Following the departure of the Romans from British shores in 410AD, a new group of invaders began to harry the island, sailing across the channel from what is now Germany and Denmark. They were the Angles, Jutes and Saxons, and it is after the Angles that England is named. These ‘Anglo-Saxons’ gradually conquered the Romano-British tribes over the following two centuries, so that by the time Rathulf was born in 807AD, most of southern Britain was under Anglo-Saxon control. Only the far western corner remained in British hands, but it would not be long before this remnant kingdom of Britons–known as Dumnonia–would face the Anglo-Saxons’ wrath. In Rathulf’s day, the Anglo-Saxons were more commonly referred to collectively as ‘the Seaxan.’ (Much as the Viking invaders from Norway and Denmark were collectively labelled ‘the Danes’ by the Anglo-Saxon chroniclers.) There remains considerable debate amongst academics whether the broad-brush term ‘Anglo-Saxon’ is an appropriate label to apply to the diverse peoples who raided and settled the British Isles at this time, and who subsequently went on to establish independent kingdoms across the land. Most likely, those people would have referred to themselves by their kingdom name, such as, “I am Mercian,” or, in the case of Wessex, “Westseaxna.” It was the Wessex King Alfred the Great who began to collectively call the Anglo-Saxons ‘the anglcyn’ (a precursor to ‘the English’).
Scortum
Latin term meaning sex slave or prostitute. Used for either sex. Context clarifies male (e.g., scortum virile). See the note about slavery in the historical notes section. L.
Seaxisc
Applies to a thing or person being of Saxon origin (equivalent to the way we use the word ‘English’ today). OE.
Seaxan
Old English word for ‘the Saxons’ as a people. (See Saxon above.) OE.
Seiðr
Seiðr (pronounced roughly SAY-thr) was a Norse magical art centred on fate-weaving, trance prophecy, and the shaping of outcomes—to bless, curse, heal, bind, loosen, find, or foretell. It’s closely linked with Freyja (as its great teacher) and Óðinn, who also practised it. Its practitioners were predominantly women, called seiðkona (seiðr-woman), völva (seeress) or spákona. Men could practise, but they risked attracting the stigma of ergi (unmanliness). ON.
Seiðkona
A seiðkona (“seiðr-woman”) was a Norse female practitioner of seiðr, the trance-based magic of fate-weaving, divination, blessing/baneful workings, and spirit-journeys. Often called a völva or spákona (“prohesy-woman”), she performed rites with a staff from a raised seat (seiðhjallr), aided by chants (varðlokkur). Seiðkonur were sought for counsel and feared for their power—respected yet feared—while the craft itself carried taboos, especially for men who practised it. ON.
Seiðstafr
Witching staff carried by the Norse seers and sorceresses (see above) during the performance of the seiðr ritual. ON.
Serð mik!
ON profanity, for all manner of strong emotions, from anger and pain to joy and surprise. Translates to ‘f*ck me!’ ON.
Scriptorium
The scriptorium was the monastery’s writing room, where monks and nuns copied and illuminated manuscripts, scripture, liturgical books, and other learned works. It provided desks, inks, quills, and exemplars under the oversight of the armarius/precentor, ensuring accurate transcription, binding, and repair of books for the library and church. L.
Selmaðr / Selkie
The mythical shapeshifting seals who were able to transform into human form by shedding their sealskin, to then entrap their victims with their false kindness and beauty. The Scots and Irish refer to these mythical beasts as ‘selkies.’ ON.
Sexæring
Open rowing boat with three pairs of oars, sometimes carrying a removable mast and sail. From ON = ‘Six-oared’.
Shieling
An area of summer pasture used for cattle or sheep, often with a shepherd’s hut or shelter. ON, but in common use in Cumbria and Scotland to this day for upland pastures, usually in a sheltered location.
Sigrblót
Sigrblót (Old Norse “victory-sacrifice”) was a spring sacrifice held at the start of the summer half of the year (roughly mid-April). Communities sacrificed (especially to Óðinn) seeking victory and good fortune for upcoming raiding and campaigning. Rituals typically included animal sacrifice, toasts, oath-swearing, and sending off warriors under divine favour. ON.
Skaði
Skaði was a Jötunn (giantess) and winter/mountains huntress and bow-skier. She is associated with skiing, cold, and stern justice. ON.
Skiff
Small inshore sailing boat, usually crewed by one or two people.
Skítr
Excrement. The Norse equivalent of the exclamation “shit!” ON.
Skogsnymfen
ON = Forest nymph. They appear in the form of small, beautiful women with a seemingly friendly temperament. However, those who are enticed into following her into the forest are never seen again.
Sköll and Hati
Sköll (ON = “One Who Mocks”) and Hati (ON = “One Who Hates”) are two wolves who daily pursue Sol and Mani, the sun and moon, through the sky in the hope of devouring them. At Ragnarök, the end of the world, they catch their prey, and the sky and earth darken as a result.
Sleipnir
Odin’s mythical eight-legged horse. ON.
Slippy
ON slang/nickname for Odin’s horse, Sleipnir.
Sōlmōnath
The month of February (approximate) in the Saxon calendar. OE.
Sorðit
Norse profanity, similar to “f*ck”. ON.
Starboard
Viking ships did not have rudders of the type we typically see on the stern of boats today; rather, they attached a broad paddle-like oar–called the ‘steering board’–to the outside right-hand side of the hull at the stern; thus lending its name to that side of all ships today (starboard). ON = stýri (rudder) + borð (side of a ship).
Strake
A horizontal line of planks that makes up part of a longship’s hull. Longships were ‘clinker-built’, which means that the adjoining strakes were held together on an overlap by rivets. In more recent times, the topmost strake on a ship’s hull became known as the ‘gunwale’ because in medieval times this was where guns were attached. Vikings didn’t have guns of course, and in their days it was called the ‘Ripr’. In larger fighting longships, the topmost strake was constructed with an outer plank so that the Viking’s round shields could be slotted into the gap for stowage while at sea, hence the term ‘shield-rail.’ ON.
Straw Death
A “straw death” meant dying in bed of sickness or old age—literally on the straw bedding—not in battle. For Norse warrior ideals it was the lesser end: the battle-slain hoped for Valhalla, while those who died a straw death were thought to go to Hel/Helheim, an honourable enough passing for common folk, but a disappointment for fighters seeking glory everlasting. ON.
Surtr
Surtr (“the Black/Swart One”) is the fire-giant of Múspellsheim, guardian of its frontier and the blazing force of cosmic destruction. At Ragnarök he leads the sons of Múspell across Bifröst, wields a flaming sword, and slays Freyr; afterward he sets the world ablaze, consuming heaven and earth in fire so a renewed world can arise. He embodies primordial, unstoppable fire and ending—the counter to the cosmos’ ordered beginnings. ON.
Swale
A low or hollow place, especially a marshy depression between ridges. ON.
Tabard
A simple, sleeveless overtunic or heavy overmantel, sometimes carrying the colours and/or crest of the wearer’s thegn or fyrd. Generally worn over a tunic or armour. ME.
Thegn / Thane
Anglo-Saxon term, meaning “servant, attendant, retainer.” It generally referred to an aristocratic retainer of a king or nobleman in Saxon England. Commonly a thegn was a lord who held an estate and had his own retainers (a ‘fyrd’) who could be called to arms in times of war or trouble. OE.
Thor
One of the Aesir–the principal Norse Gods–Thor is considered to be the protector of all Midgard. Thor is strength personified, and he wields the mighty hammer Mjöllnir. His battle chariot is drawn by two goats (named Tanngrisnir or “teeth-barer/snarler” and Tanngnjóstr or “teeth-grinder”), and his hammer Mjöllnir causes the thunder and lightning that rumbles and flashes across the sky.
Thrall
ON word for ‘slave.’ Slavery was an everyday norm in Viking times, with all cultures and kingdoms maintaining an active trade in people as saleable commodities. Slaves were seen as little better than cattle–advanced domestic animals at best–who typically lived in the darkest end of the longhouse with the other domestic beasts. If slaves did not behave properly, then they were beaten. An owner could punish his slaves as much as he wanted. Slaves’ bodies were also available for sexual exploitation. Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that the Vikings were not particularly kind to their slaves, but that could also be said of their Saxon and British counterparts. Indeed, the Bodmin Manumissions preserves the names and details of slaves freed in Bodmin (then the principal town of Kernow) during the 9th and 10th centuries, indicating both that slavery existed in Dumnonia at that time and that numerous Kernowyon slave-owners eventually set their slaves free. By the time of the Norman invasion in 1066, it is estimated that at least 10% of the population were enslaved, possibly as many as 30%. Ranking slightly above slaves, the majority of ‘freemen’ nevertheless lived as bonded serfs, i.e. they were provided a dwelling and land to farm, but it all belonged to their lord, including any produce from their labours.
Tiller
The handle on a ship’s steering board or rudder.
Tørrfisk
Stockfish; unsalted fish, especially cod, dried by cold air and wind on wooden racks. ON.
Trencher
A trencher was a diner’s “plate” in medieval Europe; originally a thick slice of stale bread used to hold meat and gravy. When the meal ended, the gravy-soaked trencher was given to the poor or dogs (or eaten by the diner if they were still hungry). From the late Middle Ages, wooden (and later pewter) trenchers replaced bread in wealthier settings. (From Old French trenchier, “to cut/slice”; cf. “trencherman,” a hearty eater.). OE.
Turncoat
Medieval term meaning ‘traitor.’
Twattle
One of Sigvald’s favourite phrases, meaning: Nonsense!
Ull / Ullr
A winter god of the bow and snowshoes, among other associations. Very little is actually known about Ull, but he seems to have been quite prominent in early Scandinavian mythology; his stardom fading during the later Viking Age.
Ungmenni
Youth / young man. ON.
Uruz
Norse rune symbolising strength. ON.
Útburðr
Old Norse word for an exposed child, and later its revenant or ghost (“that which is carried out,” i.e., left outside). “Myling” is a more recent Scandinavian variant. ON.
Valhalla
Hall of the fallen heroes, located in Asgard. All good Viking warriors desired entry to Valhalla when they died, for there they would fight and feast into glorious eternity.
Valkyries
Valkyries are warrior maidens who attended Odin, ruler of the gods. The Valkyries rode through the air in brilliant armour, directed battles, distributed death lots among the warriors, and conducted the souls of slain heroes to Valhalla, the great hall of Odin. Their leader was Brunhilde.
Varangian Guard
The name of the fabled force of Viking bodyguards to the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor, based in Konstantinoupolis, who were sworn to protect the emperor in return for fame and fortune (i.e. they were mercenaries). The name comes from the ON word ‘Væringi,’ which itself is probably derived from the ON word ‘vār’, meaning ‘pledge’. The Varangians were predominantly drawn from the ‘Rus’ Vikings (who originally came from Sweden).
Vardlokkur
Magical charm, shaped to carry the spirit of the person for whom a seiðr ceremony was being performed. ON.
Vigrid
In Norse mythology, Vigrid was the vast battlefield on which the final fight between the gods and the giants, Ragnarök, was fought.
Viking
Strictly speaking, a person from Scandinavia (modern Sweden, Norway and Denmark) who partook in ship-borne raids and piracy (to ‘go a-Viking’). However, we tend to use the catch-all term ‘Viking’ to mean anyone from that part of the world during a particular period in history known as the Viking Age. There were three main groups of Vikings: the Norse, Rus and Danes. Rathulf was raised by Norse Vikings, i.e. folk who lived in the fjordlands of present-day Norway. The Norse tended to raid, and ultimately settle in, the western coastal parts of Britain (such as the Hebrides and the Lake District) and the eastern coast of Ireland. By contrast, the people from what is mostly present-day Sweden were known as the Rus, and it is after these people that Russia is named; for these intrepid explorers tended to head east and inland over the great rivers like the Volga, eventually reaching Konstantinoupolis by that route. Meanwhile, the Danes (from their namesake country) raided the eastern and southern coasts of Britain and also the land now occupied by Germany, France and Spain, sometimes venturing far inland in Europe where the rivers would allow it. In many of the early Saxon and English texts, the Viking raiders are all referred to as ‘the Danes,’ regardless of their actual origin (they all looked terrifyingly similar to the poor monks who were often subject to the raids).
Viking Age
The period of European history generally defined as beginning in 793 with an attack by Vikings on the monastery of Lindisfarne in present-day Northumbria, and ending in 1066, with the invasion of England by William the Conqueror. The Battle of Hastings marked the beginning of the Norman period of British history; Norman referring to William’s Viking (‘Northman’) ancestry.
Villein
A tenant farmer who was tied in servitude to their landowning Lord. Synonymous with the term ‘peasant.’ The majority of people in early medieval Britain were peasants. OE.
Völva
A Völva (Old Norse “staff-bearer”) was a female seeress in Norse society; an honoured yet fearsome ritual specialist who practiced seiðr (trance-magic) and spá (prophecy). She travelled or served elite households, sitting on a raised seiðhjallr with a staff, while assistants sang varðlokkur (spirit-songs) to help her enter a trance, foretell fate, bless or curse, and “bind/loosen” luck, weather, or outcomes. Völur (pl) stood at the edge of sacred and social order: revered for their sight, but treated with wary respect due to the power and taboo of their craft. ON.
Weala / Wealas / Wealh
‘Weala’ (and its variant spellings) is a somewhat derogatory Saxon word meaning ‘slaves, foreigners or strangers.’ Wealas, or Wales as we know it today, was the term many Saxons used to describe native Britons, which is why, unsurprisingly, folks from this country prefer the original British term Cymru (pronounced ‘cum-ree’) to describe themselves today.
Wergild
A wergild was a defined value placed on every man, graded according to rank, and used as the basis of a fine or compensation for murder, disablement, injury (or certain other serious crimes) against that person. It was payable as restitution to the victim’s family by the guilty party. It was also a levy (tax) imposed by the kings of Wessex to their vassal states, such as Dumnonia. OE.
Westseaxna Rīce
The kingdom of the West Saxons (Wessex). OE.
Whitsuntide
Whitsuntide was the week following Whitsun (or Whitsunday) and was one of three holiday weeks for the medieval villein. Whitsun is the Christian holy day of Pentecost. It falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples (as described in Acts 2). OE.
Widdershins
To spin or turn counterclockwise/anticlockwise. To go against the way, against the sun. OE.
Winterfylleð
The month of October in the Saxon calendar. OE.
Wōdness
Old English wōdness (also wodness) = madness, frenzy, rage; a state of derangement or possessed fury. From wōd / wod “mad, frenzied, furious.” It is cognate with Old Norse óðr (“frenzy, poetic inspiration”). Used both for mental derangement and battle-fury/berserk-like frenzy in poetic contexts. OE / ON.
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is fundamental to the Norse cosmos. It is the great world-ash tree, binding all Nine Realms across trunk, branches, and roots. Its three roots reach to Urðr’s Well among the gods, Mímir’s Well in Jötunheim, and Hvergelmir in Niflheim, where it is watered by the Norns even as creatures—an eagle above, Ratatoskr the squirrel, and Níðhöggr gnawing below—test its strength. ON.