What is Kenning?
- File photo. | Credit Andy Mohr Collision Center
Definition and Examples of Kenning
Kenning refers to a concise phraseOpens in new window used as a metaphorOpens in new window that replaces a name or common nounOpens in new window. Thus, calling a minor car accident a “Fender-bender”, is a typical example of Kenning.
Etymologically, the term kenning is derived from the Old Norse IcelandicOpens in new window verb kenna (to know, recognize), which in the phrase kenna X vid Y means “to call X by Y’s name.”
A kenning typically consists of two elements, both of which are nounsOpens in new window, as in: “surf horse.” One of the nouns, “horse,” is the baseword and the other “surf,” the determinant.
In the baseword the object is named, and in the determinantOpens in new window, it is qualified. At first sight, the two nouns often appear incongruous, but their meaning can be perceived by tracing the relationship of each to one another.
However, some kennings consist more than two elements, and these form of kennings are called double or extended kennings. In a double kenning, the determinant is itself a kenning, as in: “stave of the icicle of battle,” where “icicle of battle” is a kenning for “sword” ; and “stave of the sword,” a kenning for “warrior.”
An extended kenning rarely occurs but when it does, it manifests the determinant to a further kenning, which becomes determinant to yet another kenning, as in: “stave of the icicle of the tumult of axes,” ; where “tumult of axes” is a kenning for “battle,” “icicle of the tumult of axes” a kenning for “sword,” and “stave of the sword,” as noted above, being a kenning for “warrior.”
Notable Examples of Kenning
There are broad categories of kenning, and these are enumerated in the examples below:
A. Modern Examples of Kenning
Kennings | Literal Meanings |
---|---|
Ankle-biter | A very young child. |
Bean counter | A CPA or an accountant. |
Bookworm | Someone that reads excessively. |
Brown noser | Someone who does anything to gain advantange or approval. |
Fender bender | A slight car accident. |
First Lady | Wife of the president. |
Four-eyes | Someone who wears eye glasses. |
Head twister | Owl. |
Hot potato | Something no one wants. |
Mind-reader | A person who knows what you are thinking. |
Motor mouth | Someone who talks a lot and/or fast. |
Pencil pusher | Someone with a clerical job |
Pig-skin | A football. |
Postman chaser | A dog. |
Rug ra | A toddler or an infant. |
Show-stopper | An artist or performer worthy of receiving a standing ovation. |
Tree hugger | An environmentalist. |
Tree swinger | Monkey. |
Tummy slider | Penguin. |
B. Weather Related Kennings
Kennings | Literal Meanings. |
---|---|
Boreas’s burning | Snow blindness. |
Elf-glory | The sun. |
Feather’s fall | Falling snow. |
Frozen road | Ice-covered river. |
Northern kiss | Cold wind. |
Ship of night | The moon. |
Sky-candle | The sun. |
Sky’s black cloak | Nightfall. |
Thor’s laughter | Thunder. |
Weather of wolves | Harsh winter. |
White death | killed by an avalanche. |
Winter’s blade | Cold wind. |
Winter’s blanke | Snow. |
Winter spear | Icicle. |
C. Battle Related Kennings
Kennings | Literal Meanings. |
---|---|
Battle metal | Weapons. |
Battle-sweat | Blood. |
Black song | Reaver’s war cry. |
Blood-ember | Axe. |
Bone-beak | Axe. |
Dew of slaughter | Blood. |
Feeding the eagle | killing enemies. |
Light-of-battle | Sword. |
Mind's worth | Honor. |
Toast of ravens | Blood. |
Traveling the Hel road | Dying. |
War needles | Arrows. |
Weather of weapons | Large-scale battle. |
Wound-hoe | Sword. |
D. People Related Kennings
Kennings | Literal Meanings. |
---|---|
Bear shirt | Berserker (Norse warrior). |
Bringer of rings | Chieftain or king. |
Children of battle | Soldiers. |
Feller of the life-webs | Slayer. |
Feeder of eagles/ravens | Warrior. |
Fire beater | A smith. |
Forseti’s favored | A diplomat. |
Girl of the house | A wife. |
Lord of laughter | Composer, poet or Norse god Loki |
Ring giver | Chief. |
Rune caller | Wizard or magician. |
Shield-gnawer | Berserker (Norse warrior). |
Slayer of giants | Thor. |
E. Miscellaneous Kennings
Kennings | Literal meanings. |
---|---|
Balder’s gift | Mistletoe. |
Bane of wood | Fire. |
Branches of fjord | Ship. |
Dragon’s bile | Poison. |
Draught of giants | Sudden realization. |
Forseti’s failure | Unjust decisions. |
Frigg’s lapse | Mistletoe. |
Lindworm claws | Skates. |
Mimir’s warning | Prophecy of doom. |
Mind's worth | Honor. |
Odin’s furrows | Runes. |
Ribs of Ull | Skis. |
Ring-rich | A generous person. |
Serpent's lair | Gold. |
Sindri’s gift | Wealth. |
Strong brew | Mistletoe as an ingredient. |
Uncut thread | Destiny to be fulfilled. |
Wind racers | Horses. |
Wolf’s joint | Wrist. |
Ancestor’s watch | A stone circle. |
Green clearing | Shaman’s gathering place |
Swan-road | The sea. |
Valley-trout | Serpent. |
Wave-swine | Ship. |
Whale-road | The ocean. |
Whale-way | The sea. |