Leikn

Leikn(Old Norse:[ˈlɛikn]) is a femalejötunninNorse mythology.The 10th-centuryskald Vetrliði Sumarliðasonlists her among the jötnar killed by thethunder god Thor.

Name[edit]

TheOld NorsenameLeiknhas been translated as 'trickery'.^[1]Stemming from aProto-Norseform reconstructed as*laikīnō,it is related to the Old Norseleikni('bewitchment'), and to theOld Englishscīn-lǣce('sorceress').^[2]

Attestations[edit]

The death of Leikn is mentioned in alausavísacomposed byVetrliði Sumarliðasonwhich praises Thor for having killedgiantsand giantesses:

Leggi brauzt Leiknar,

lamðir Þrívalda,

steypðir Starkeði,

stétt of Gjǫlp dauða.

—Edith Marold's edition

You broke Leikn's bones,

you poundedThrivaldi

you cast downStarkad,

you stood over the deadGialp.

—Skáldskaparmál(4),Faulkes' translation

Leikn's name was used byskaldsinkennings.Hallfreðr vandræðaskáldthus uses thekenning"Leikn's horse" (hestr Leiknar) for a wolf (Óláfsdrápa,6) andHallvarðr háreksblesicalls the raven "hawk of Leikn of points" (haukr Leiknar odda) that is "hawk ofvalkyrie"(Knútsdrápa,6).

Leikn is also listed in theþulur.

References[edit]

^Orchard 1997,p. 194.
^de Vries 1962,p. 351.

Bibliography[edit]

de Vries, Jan(1962).Altnordisches Etymologisches Worterbuch(1977 ed.). Brill.ISBN 978-90-04-05436-3.

Faulkes, Anthony, trans. (1987).Edda(1995 ed.). Everyman.ISBN 0-460-87616-3.
Orchard, Andy(1997).Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend.Cassell.ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.

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[FOOTNOTEOrchard1997194-1] Orchard 1997,p. 194.

[FOOTNOTEde_Vries1962351-2] Vries 1962,p. 351.

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