I have a request to translate "cup bearer" into old norse.
While this is trivial at first glance there are a couple of
connotations I would like to work into the translation that
make it tricky.
It has been a while since I have had time to work on my
old-norse so this would make a good opportunity for anyone
to post about creating compound words.
Old norse does seem to have a lot of options for cupbearer:
Skenkjari (cup bearer male)
skutilsveinn (cup bearer with connotation of "page")
byrlari (cup bearer with connotation of "one who fills the
cup")
vínbyrli (wine bearer)
ölselja (ale cup bearer - female)
The context I am after is that of a friendship cup. The
"bearer"
is male so "maðr" is appropriate.
The concept involved is related to verse 52 of the havamal -
at least the following part:
með höllu keri
fekk ek mér félaga
"with tilted cup I have made comrades"
In this case "keri" is clearly the word I'm hunting for.
ker, n. tub, vessel, goblet.
The only contexts offered for "ker/keri" seem to place it in
the second half (höllu keri) rather than as a leading part
(kerimaðr).
I also need to find a way to work in "holder"
Zoega offers
hefðarmaðr (man who possesses)
burðarmaðr (burden bearer - male)
Verse 19 of the havamal offers "Haldit maðr á keri"
which has the concept of "don't hold the cup" which isn't
quite right for me. Zoega also doesn't seem to have any
help on "haldit".