Keth reit:

> I'd like to add that "ben" (f.) means wound, and is related
> to Gothic "banja" and is used 3 times in the Edda, and
> seems to be a different word from wound/wund ~ ON "und".
> (I just learned this, and also went to read the 3 Edda
> verses where the word occurs, even if I don't understand
> everything). "Und" (f.) does however occur 5 times in the
> Edda. Is "ben" still used for wound in MI, or is it archaic?

I am almost unable to answer questions
like this so I went and asked my mother:)
She didn't recognise "ben" so it must
qualify as archaic.

It's a perfectly good word for poetry;
though. It's even in the Sjúrðarkvæði:

Ormurin er skriðin av gullinum,
langt ger hann skrið,
Sjúrður trívur um benjarkolv,
hann býr sítt svörðið til.

The worm has crawled off the gold,
he does a long crawl,
Sjúrður grasps his staff of wounds (benjar-kolvur)
he prepares his sword.

The same kenning, "benja-kólfur" occurs in
something by Bólu-Hjálmar, I'll let you know
if I find it.

Regards,
Haukur