Heil Birgit!

> I received an answer from someone in Iceland (below) with some good
> information that I want to share with you on the list.

Thank you, Birgit. The answer is accurate - and saves me
the trouble of writing one :-) Thanks to the "anonymous"
author as well.

Just a point or two on the grammar involved.

You have the neuter word 'skraut' meaning
"adornment" from which the nomen agentis 'skreytir'
is formed by the addition of an 'ir' suffix and
i-mutation of the stem vowel. This process is far
from unique. Take, for example, the (also neuter)
word 'raun' meaning "test". Applying the 'ir' suffix
and i-mutation as above we get 'reynir' which is a
nomen agentis meaning "tester". This word is also
common in kennings. Something like "reynir branda;
tester of swords" would be a simple kenning for "man".

In both cases there is a verb available, also formed
with i-mutation.

skreyta, skreyti - to adorn
reyna, reyni - to try

Both take accusative.

Óláfr skreytir brandinn.
Óláfr reynir brandinn.

For an example from Heimskringla:

"Gerðisk Óláfi forvitni á at reyna spádóm manns þess."

- Now, Olaf become curious to test the prophesy of this man.

Kveðja,
Haukur