marekors

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

• murukors (dialectal)
• marekross

Etymology

From mare (“mare, the evil night spirit”) +‎ kors (“cross”).

Noun

marekors n (definite singular marekorset, indefinite plural marekors, definite plural marekorsa)

1. (folklore) a pentagram or a pentacle carved in a wall (or on a door) with an iron knife (or painted with tar) as protection against evil spirits

Synonyms

• lånekors (a tar cross)
• maremerke
• murustjerne
• pentagram
• pentakel
• tussekors

References

• Å.Ø. Kostveit (1997) Kors i kake, skurd i tre: tegn og symboler i folkekulturen