Þurs and Gríðr are still used in Icelandic today, and they are the male and female name of the same species.
 
Heiðrún
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Lazarus
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 8:28 PM
Subject: [norse_course] New Topic

I was thumbing through Zoega today and ran across a term I'd like some input on.
 
Usually when I post things like this I get nothing in response, but I'll try again anyway.
 
The word is 'Gríðr' and Zoega translated it as 'giantess'. What strikes me is that I've never heard of this word before. The term 'Þursr' meaning 'giant' is well known and the topic of many discussions, yet nowhere have I read of a separate word for the feminine gender of the same 'species?'.
 
Does anyone know anything about this term and how it is used? Any instances in the lore that might shed light on this? Could the word 'Þurs' exclusively mean the male gender of 'giants' or does it include the female as well, with 'Gríðr' being a rare term?
 
-Laz


Sumir hafa kvæði...
...aðrir spakmæli.

- Keth

Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/

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