svanni

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Old Norse

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Etymology

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Possibly a diminutive from svanr (swan), meaning “little swan”. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

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svanni m (genitive svanna)

  1. (poetic, heiti) lady, woman
    sá hvítjarpr svanni
    the light-brown-haired lady
    • 1093–1103, King Magnús barefoot Óláfsson, loose verse 4
      [] Þungan berk af þingi
      þann harm, es skalk svanna
      — skreytask menn á móti —
      minn aldrigi finna.
      Heavy I carry away from the assembly, the sorrow that I shall never — men adorn themselves at the meeting — find my lady.

Usage notes

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Although this word does refer to a woman, it is still grammatically masculine.

Declension

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