The Heroes of Asgard Part 19

_Frigga_ or _Frigg_--Free, beauteous, winsome.

_Garm_--The dog with b.l.o.o.d.y breast and jaws who guarded the way to Helheim. From gerr, "voracious," a word probably cognate with English "gorge."

_Gerd_, _Gerda_, or _Gerdur_--From _gera_, "to do--make," as in _akrgerd_, "agriculture."

_Gimli_--Name of the heavenly city which existed after the destruction and renewal of the world. Signifies, "fire," or "gem."

_Ginnungagap_--The s.p.a.ce between Niflheim and Muspellheim. Literally, "the gap of gaps, the abyss of abysses, the yawning, gaping abyss."

_Gjallar-bru_--The sounding river leading from the abodes of the living to those of the dead.

_Gjallar-horn_--From _gjalla_, "to resound, to clang." Cognate with the English, "to yell."

_Gjoll_--Name of river, meaning "the horizon." It signifies, "sonorous, fulgid," and has reference to the popular belief of the sun's sound when it goes down and when it rises, or when day breaks forth; the _skriek of day_, our "break of day."

_Gladsheim_--Odin's abode. Literally, "glad's home," or "the abode of gladness;" from whence the English word "gladsome."

_Gleipnir_--The chain made by dwarfs for the binding of Fenrir. It signifies, "the devouring."

_Gnipa_--Cave leading to Helheim.

_Gullinbursti_--Golden Bristles. Name of Frey's hog.

_Gulltoppr_--Golden Mane. The name of Heimdall's steed.

_Heimdall_--Guardian of the rainbow. His name signifies, "the pole or post of the world." The rainbow, when incomplete, is still called by the northern nations Veirstolpe, literally, "a weather-post."

_Hela_--The Queen of the Dead. Some say that her name means "intense cold;" others, "a large hole or cavity."

_Helheim_--The home of Hela.

_Hermod_--The name of Odin's messenger. It signifies, "a host," or "army of courage."

_Himinbiorg_--Heimdall's abode. The name signifies, "heavenly mountains."

_Hlidskjalf_--The name of Odin's throne, from whence he looked over the earth. It means literally, "a trembling or wavering slope."

_Hodur_ or _Hod_--The blind G.o.d. His name means, "war, combat."

_Hnir_--The G.o.d of mind or perception. He is sometimes called the rapid _As_, or _Long-foot_.

_Hringhorn_--Literally, "ringed horn." The name of Baldur's ship.

_Hrym_ or _Ryme_--Name of a giant, from whence "rime frost."

_Hugi_ or _Hugin_--Spirit, breath, thought. The name of one of Odin's ravens.

_Hvergelmir_--The roaring cauldron, or spring of hot water, which bubbled up out of Niflheim.

_Hymir_--Name of a giant. From _hum_, "the sea."

_Hyrrokin_--Literally, "smoky fire." The name of a giantess.

_Iduna_ or _Idun_--Guardian of the apples of immortality.

_Jarnvid_--Iron Wood.

_Jormungand_--Universal serpent.

_Jotunheim_--Giants' home. Grimm thinks that the old Norse for giant, _iotun_, is cognate with the old Saxon _eten_, and may be derived from _eta_, "to eat."

_Kerlaug_--One of the rivers through which Thor had to wade on his way to the Doomstead.

_Kormt_--Another of the rivers through which Thor waded.

_Kvasir_--Name of a man killed by dwarfs; also of one of Odin's sons.

_Laeding_--Name of one of the chains used to bind Fenrir.

_Landvidi_--Vidar's abode. Literally, "wide land."

_Logi_--Flame.

_Loki_--Either flame, or derived from _luka_, "to shut;" whence the English "lock."

_Lyngvi_--The island of sweet broom.

_Magni_--The powerful. One of Thor's sons.

_Manheim_--The abode of men.

_Mani_--The moon.

_Mardoll_--Sea-nymph; from whence, perhaps, the English word, "doll."

_Megingjardir_--Thor's girdle of might, the belt of prowess.

_Midgard_--Name applied to the earth; "middle-ward," or "inclosure."

_Mimer_--Guardian of Wisdom's Well. The name signifies, "to keep in memory," or "to be mindful." Mimer's Well was supposed to be situated at that end of the rainbow opposite to Himinbiorg. Mimer drank water from his well out of a horn, whence the popular superst.i.tion that a cup is to be found at the end of the rainbow.