The Heroes of Asgard Part 20

_Miolnir_--Name of Thor's hammer. It signifies, "to pound or grind;"

whence the English word "mill."

_Modgudur_--Name of the woman who stood at the end of the bridge leading to Helheim. It signifies, "courageous," from whence the English word "mood."

_Modi_--The name of one of Thor's sons. It signifies, "courage."

_Munin_--Name of one of Odin's ravens. It signifies, "memory."

_Muspellheim_--The Muspellhome. _Muspell_ means "elemental fire."

_Naglfar_--Name of the s.h.i.+p that appears at Ragnarok, made of nails.

_Nagl_ means "nail."

_Nanna_--Baldur's wife. The name signifies, "daring."

_Nari_--One of Loki's sons. The name signifies, "binding."

_Nastrond_--Literally, "the sh.o.r.e of corpses."

_Nidhogg_--Serpent at the root of Yggdrasil. The name may be rendered "dark gnawer."

_Niflheim_--Literally, "nebulous home."

_Njord_--A Van, the universal nouris.h.i.+ng power in air and water.

There is in the North an aquatic plant still called "Njord's glove."

_Noatun_--The name of Njord's home. It means, "the place of s.h.i.+ps."

_Nornir_--singular _Norn_--Name given to the Fates.

_Odin_--Called by the Saxons _Wodan_ or _Woden_. Several places still retain the name of Odin in Germany and Sweden, as, also, Wednesbury, in Staffords.h.i.+re.

_Odur_--The name of Freyja's husband.

_Ragnarok_--The twilight of the G.o.ds.

_Ran_--Wife of aegir. Her name signifies, "plunder, robbery."

_Ratatosk_--The name of the squirrel which ran up and down Yggdrasil.

_Roska_--The sister of Thialfi, Thor's attendant. The name signifies, "quick, lively, active;" from whence comes the English word "rash."

_Saehrimnir_--Name of the boar every evening eaten in Valhalla.

_Sessrymnir_--The name of Freyja's hall. It signifies, "seat roomy;"

from whence the English word "room."

_Sif_--Name of Thor's wife.

_Siguna_--Name of Loki's wife.

_Siofna_--Daughter of Freyja and G.o.ddess of sleep.

_Skadi_--The wife of Niord. _Skadi_ signifies, "the hurtful." Her habitation was Thrymheim, "noise-home."

_Skidbladnir_--Name of Frey's s.h.i.+p. The English word "blade," or "leaf," comes from Bladnir.

_Skirnir_--Frey's messenger. The name signifies, "serene, pure, clear." The English word "sheer" comes from it.

_Skrymir_--Name of a giant. From _skrum_, "show, brag, feint."

_Skuld_--One of the Nornir. _Skuld_ signifies, "what is to come."

_Sleipnir_--Name of Odin's horse. He had eight legs. _Sleipnir_ signifies, "smooth, gliding;" from whence the English word "slippery."

_Sol_--The sun.

_Surt_ or _Surtur_--The fire-G.o.d, who lived in Muspellheim. His name signifies, "swart, browned by fire."

_Suttung_--A giant, whose name means, "to drink."

_Svartalfheim_ or _Svartheim_--Literally, "swart or dark home." It was the region of the dwarfs, or dark elves.

_Thaukt_--Name of a witch.

_Thialfi_--One of Thor's attendants. Supposed to mean, "the thunder-shower."

_Thia.s.si_--Name of Skadi's father. It signifies, "violent, tempestuous."

_Thor_--G.o.d of thunder. Also called _Ving-Thor_, or _Winged-Thor_; _Auku_, or _Oku-Thor_; _Chariot-Thor_.

_Thrudvang_ or _Thrudheim_--Thor's abode. The name signifies, "the region of fort.i.tude," or "dense, closely packed together."

_Thrymheim_--Noise-home.

_Tyr_--The G.o.d after whom Tuesday was named.

_Urd_--One of the Nornir. Her name signifies, "past."

_Urda_--The name of the sacred fount, which was situated over Bifrost.

_Utgard_--The name of the chief city of Jotunheim. Literally, "outer-ward."