I'm pretty sure that the main reason 'wyrm' is referred to as a dragon has
to do with English translations of Eddas referring to Jormungard
(Iormungand) simultaneously as a Wyrm and a Serpent.

I've always thought the relationship had to do with their legless shape and
penchant for encircling things. Making the distinction between reptile and
Nematoids wasn't important until the 16th and 17th centuries.

In one poem I've read, beavers were called 'fish' because they lived in the
water and thus were perfectly acceptable to eat on Fridays.

-Laz

----- Original Message -----
From: <keth@...>
To: <norse_course@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 8:11 PM
Subject: Re: [norse_course] Re: can you help translate please


> Tatyana wrote:
> >Isn't ormr wyrm as opposed to worm? I thought orm
> >meant serpent or dragon, not the little wiggly thingy...
>
>
> I cannot find "wyrm" as a modern English word, though.
> And I therefore assume that you wish to contrast Anglo-
> -Saxon "wyrm" with modern English "worm".
>
> Interestingly, Anglo-Saxon does not have "worm". It only
> has "wurma", but that is the vermiljon color (also called
> "purple")
>
> Anglo-Saxon "wyrm" is, however, the same word that developed
> into modern English "worm". At the same time the meaning
> must have evolved with the word.
>
> In Norway we still say "orm" about adders.
> I don't think "orm" is a dragon. There is the word "dreki" for that.
>
> Really tiny worms, insects or maggots are called "maðkr" in Old Norse.
>
> So I guess you are right that orm is the same as wyrm.
> However, the dictionary says that A-S wyrm can also
> mean the little wiggly thingly...
>
>
> Keth
>
>
>
>
>
> Sumir hafa kvæði...
> ...aðrir spakmæli.
>
> - Keth
>
> Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/
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