▪ I. skald, scald
(skɔːld, skæld)
Also 8 scalld.
[a. ON. and Icel. skáld neut., occurring as early as the 9th cent.; no satisfactory etymology has yet been proposed. Hence also mod.Norw. and Sw. skald, Da. (incorrectly) skjald, † sk(i)alder, sk(i)aldre.]
An ancient Scandinavian poet. Also sometimes in general use, a poet.
Usually applied to Norwegian and Icelandic poets of the Viking period and down to c 1250, but often without any clear idea as to their function and the character of their work.
| α 1763 Percy 5 Pieces Runic Poetry Pref. A 5 b, It was the constant study of the northern Scalds to lift their poetic style as much as possible above that of their prose. Ibid. 49 The Ransome of Egill the Scald. 1775 Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. 60 It is supposed, that Rollo carried with him many scalds from the north. 1830 Scott Ivanhoe xxxii. note, It will readily occur to the antiquary, that these verses are intended to imitate the antique poetry of the Scalds. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1875) III. 267 The inspiration of the scald comes upon him. |
| β 1780 Von Troil Iceland 198 In ancient times there was no king, or any other man of note, who had not his own skald or poet. 1818 E. Henderson Iceland II. 356 Before taking the field of battle, it was the office of the Skald to compose a poem suited to the occasion. 1886 Athenæum 24 Apr. 551/2 The skill with which the author has reproduced..the alliterative verse of the Skalds. |
Hence ˈskaldship, the office of skald.
| 1879 E. W. Gosse North. Studies 117 There was no young man so fit to be considered heir-apparent of the skaldship as Runeberg. |
▪ II. skald(e
obs. forms of scald v., scold n.