galdr

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Norse galdr (“witchcraft, sorcery, magic arts”), akin to Old English galdor, gealdor (“incantation, divination, enchantment, a charm, magic, sorcery”). Related to English gale, yell.

Noun

galdr (plural galdrar or galdrs)

1. An ancient form of shamanic chanting, an improvisational magical song, especially for a protective effect. Compare the custom of the joik and other chanting traditions among the Sámi shamanic noaidi who shares mutual influence with the Norse shamanic vǫlva and other Norse magical customs
2. A modern reinvention of Norse and later magical traditions
   • 2012, Raven Kaldera, ‎Galina Krasskova, Neolithic Shamanism: Spirit Work in the Norse Tradition

     There are different kinds of galdr; the most common is runegaldr, which consists of singing the various names of a single rune with Intent.

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Norwegian Nynorsk

Verb

galdr

1. imperative of galdra

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Old Norse

FWOTD – 17 January 2017

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *galdraz, whence also Old English galdor.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡaldr̩/

Noun

galdr m

1. shamanic magical chanting, especially relating to the Ljóðatal, gendered masculine and for protective effects
2. a term for magic generally; spell, incantation, charm, wizardry, witchcraft

Derived terms

• galdramaðr
• galdrakona
• galdrabók

Related terms

• gala
• seiðr
• gjalla

Descendants

• Icelandic: galdur
• Norwegian Nynorsk: galder
• Old Swedish: galder

References

• “galdr”, in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press