--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "llama_nom" <600cell@...> wrote:

>
> Siðreynir lét síðan
> snjallr morðhamar gjalla
> hauðrs í hattar steðja
> hjaldrs Vetrliða skaldi.
>
> "The bold custom-tester/rowan of battle (i.e. the tester/rowan of the
> custom/practice of battle = warrior) made [his] murder-hammer (i.e.
> his sword) resound, set [it] in the land of the hood (i.e. head) of
> the poet Vetrliði."

I just realised: 'steðja' isn't the verb meaning "to place", but the
masculine noun 'steði' "anvil", making a three-part kenning:

'steði hauðrs hattar'
"anvil of land of hood"

http://www.septentrionalia.net/lex/index2.php?book=e&page=535&ext=png

'hauðr hattar' "land of hood" would itself be an adequate kenning for
head, but the anvil idea goes nicely with 'morðhamar'. Interpreting
'steðja' as a verb doesn't work because 'hauðrs' "of land" is
genitive, so there needs some further noun to complete the kenning.
Sorry about that!

Siðreynir lét síðan
snjallr morðhamar gjalla
hauðrs í hattar steðja
hjaldrs Vetrliða skaldi.

The bold rowan/tester of the practice of battle (i.e. warrior) then
made his murder-hammer resound on the poet Vetrliði's anvil of the
land of the hood (i.e. head).