Skald
/skɑːld/noun
A poet or bard in medieval Scandinavia, especially one who composed and recited praise poetry.
Did you know?Skaldic poetry was so tightly crafted that its dense metaphors and allusions became a kind of verbal power system, preserving memory, status, and political authority in Viking-age courts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skallaz / *skaldaz
“Likely a speaker, poet, or one who recites; the exact prehistory is uncertain.”
Old Norse
ON
skáld
“A poet, especially a court poet or composer of praise verse.”
Old English
OE
scald
“A poet; later chiefly in historical or literary contexts.”
Middle English
ME
scald
“A poet or bard, especially in reference to Scandinavian tradition.”
Modern English
English
skald
“A Norse poet or bard, especially one composing formal praise poetry.”