Probably "boði skíða" is simply meant to be
understood "herald of firewood", i.e. "servant,
farm-hand". It would act as a comical punchline
after the inappropriately ornate kennings that
went before.

"Herald of sheaths" would sound distinctly odd.
As far as I know "boði" is only used, in kennings,
with terms meaning "battle" (frequently) or
"weapon/shield" (not so frequently), see:
http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/b2voca.html

"Herald of 'piece of firewood'" conjures up an
image of a "farm-hand warrior" brandishing a piece
of wood, if you see what I mean.

E.

--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "llama_nom" <600cell@...> wrote:
>
>
> Höfuð þetta skalt, hrotta (hrotti "sword")
> hljómstoerandi, foera,
> kom þú eldskerðir orðum
> áls ferðar, Hallgerði.
> Hykk at þöll myni þekkja (hykk = hygg + ek)
> Þynjar logs ok skynja (Þyn, a river name)
> þýð, hvárt þat hafi smíðat
> þungt níð, boði skíða.
>
> Thou shalt bring this head, increaser of the noise of sword
(increaser
> of battle = man = the shepherd); bring word, destroyer of the fire
of
> the eel's journey/way (generous gold-giver = man = the shepherd), to
> Hallgerd.
>
> I think that the gentle young fir tree of the river's flame (tree of
> gold = woman = Hallgerd) will recognise and perceive whether it (the
> head) has wrought serious slander, herald of sheaths? (warrior =
man =
> the shepherd).
>