Loki's Kennings & Heiti

Loki is a god of many faces, and many names. Not quite as many as Odin, but still a impressive haul. There are a few different types of names used in poetry: Kennings, Heiti and bynames. A kenning is a figure of speech in Old English and Old Norse poetry. It's a compound expression that replaces a single noun, often describing something metaphorically. Kennings are typically used to create vivid imagery or to convey complex ideas concisely. For example, in Old English poetry, "whale-road" might be used as a kenning for the sea, or "battle-sweat" for blood, or "town-bike" for your mum.

A Heiti, or byname is simply a synonym used in Old Norse poetry, a far less poetic version of a kenning. Like referring to a horse as a steed, or All Father (Alföðr) for Odin.

Kennings

Below is a list of kennings found in the poems for Loki:

  • vinr hrafnásar (friend of the raven-god/Óðin), Haustlöng 4
  • vinr Hænis (Hœnir's friend), Haustlöng 3, 7
  • hugreynandi Hænis (trier of Hœnir's mind), Haustlöng 12
  • bróðir Býleists (Býleist's brother), Ynglingatal 23, Völuspá 51, Völuspá hin skamma 12
  • of rúni Þórs (confidant of Þór), Haustlöng 8
  • geðreynir Gauts herþrumu (tester of the battle-Gaut's/Þór's mind), Þórsdrápa 1
  • mögr Fárbauta (son of Fárbauti), Haustlöng 5, Húsdrápa 2
  • Laufeyjar sonur (Laufey's son), Þrymskviða 18, 20, Lokasenna 52
  • faðir úlfs (wolf's father), Haustlöng 8, Lokasenna 10
  • faðir lögseims (father of the sea-thread/Jörmungand), Þórsdrápa 1
  • farmr Sigvinjar arma (cargo of Sigyn's arms), Haustlöng 7
  • farmr meinsvarra arma (cargo of the arms of harm-wary/Sigyn or possibly Angrboða), Þórsdrápa 3
  • leiðiþirr öl-Gefnar (lead-slave of ale-Gefn/Iðunn), Haustlöng 11
  • hund hrynsævar hræva öl-Gefn (hound of the roaring corpse-sea of ale-Gefn/Iðunn), Haustlöng 11
  • djúphugaðr hirðitýr herfangs (deep-minded retaining god of plunder), Haustlöng 6
  • girðiþjófr Brísings (thief of Brísing-girdle), Haustlöng 9
  • hrærir sagna (leader of troops), Haustlöng 9
  • lundr læva (tree of deceit), Haustlöng 11
  • fellir fiörnets (net-setter of the gods), Þórsdrápa 1
  • gammleið (vulture-path), Þórsdrápa 2
  • barn öglis (hawk's child), Haustlöng 12
  • meinkráka (harmful crow), Lokasenna 43
  • rög vættr (queer wight), Lokasenna 57, 59, 61, 63

Below is a list of kennings found only in Snorri's work, with no attestations in other poetry. Possibly Snori had access to kennings that didnt appear in the poetry he was using either from other manuscripts or word of mouth, or he made them up. We will never know, but it is very possible that he heard other poetry in his lifetime that were never written down.

  • rógbera ásanna (bearer of the Aesir's abuse - rógbera is often translated as "slanderer" instead of "abuse-bearer")
  • frumkveða flærðanna (originator of deceit - frumkveða is literally "first speaker")
  • bróðir Helblinda (brother of Helblind, heiti of Odin)
  • faðir Ála (father of Áli)
  • heimsæki Geirröðar (visitor of Geirröð)
  • kistuskrúd Geirröðar (casket-decoration of Geirröð)
  • þjófr jötna (thief from etins)
  • þjófr hafrs (goat thief)
  • þjófr Iðunnar epla (thief of Iðunn's apples)
  • Sleipnis frændi (Sleipnir's kin)
  • goða dólgr (enemy of the gods)
  • hárskaði Sifjar (Sif's hair-cutter)
  • bölvasmiðr (bale-smith, often translated as "lie-smith" or "father of lies")
  • hin slægi áss (the sly Áss/god)
  • rægjandi goðanna (slanderer of the gods)
  • vélandi goðanna (trickster of the gods - often translated as "betrayer", note that véla means to deceive, to build skillfully, or to make a deal)
  • ráðbani Baldrs (Baldr's rede-bane - this is a term that applied to someone who arranged the death of another, but had no active role in the murder)
  • hin bundni áss (the bound Áss/god)
  • þrætudólgr Heimdallar (quarreller of Heimdall)
  • þrætudólgr Skaða (quarreller of Skaði)

Lastly, we have some kennings that reference Loki in some way, but attributed to other figures (mostly Hel):

  • einkadóttir öðlings (only daughter of the prince/Loki) for Hel, Nóregs konungatal 8
  • lifru algífris ulfs (sister of the monstrous wolf) for Hel, Ragnarsdrápa 9
  • nipt Fenris (sister of Fenrir) for Hel, Hákonarkviða 21
  • jódis Ulfs ok Narfa (sister of the wolf and Narfi) for Hel, Ynglingatal 7
  • mær Loka (Loki's maid) for Hel, Ynglingatal 7
  • mær Hveðrungs (Hveðrung's maid) for Hel, Ynglingatal 24
  • Býleists bróður mær (Byleist's brother's maid) for Hel, Ynglingatal 31
  • mögr Hveðrungs (Hveðrung's son) for Fenrir, Völuspá 53
  • bölkveitir Loka (Loki's bale-smiter) for Thor, Haustlöng 4
  • vinar Lopts (Lopt's friend) for Odin, Vellekla 11
  • vinar Lóðurs (Lóður's friend) for Odin, Háleygjatal 8
  • bróður Vilja (Vili's brother) for Odin, Ynglingatal 3

Heiti

Lóður

Lóður stands out among most heiti due to its somewhat obscure meaning, though it's suggested that it may stem from the Proto-Norse term "logaþore." Alternatively, it has been proposed to have roots in "lóð" (fruit), potentially signifying "fruitful," or "laða" (attract), implying "attractive." Another suggestion ties it to the German "lodern" (blaze), reinforcing the association with fire for Loki.

Furthermore, Thor is also referred to as Véur (sanctifier). While this doesn't equate him with Vé, it does imply a shared function. When accompanying Loki, much like Hoenir, Thor could assume a role akin to Vé alongside Vili. However, drawing such parallels doesn't directly compare the meanings of Vili and Vé to Loki's character; it's more plausible to associate the trickster god with being "willful" rather than a "sanctifier."

A counter-argument arises from the scant reference to Vé's sanctification involving walking around an enclosure with a flame, which aligns with a potential association with fire (logi). Nonetheless, Old Norse had multiple terms for fire, with "logi" referring to wildfire and "eld" to controlled fires like hearths or torches used in rituals.

Loptr

The most attested by-name for Loki is Loptr. This literally means "Lofty" and seems to be related to a phrase that appears twice in eddic poetry, when figures are capable of magically travelling over "lopt ok lögr" (loft and lake). This phrase is not directly used of Loki, but is then referenced by kennings such as gammleið (vulture-path), öglis barn (hawk's child), and meinkráka (malice-crow).

Hveðrung 

Another heiti that is attested in the kennings of Loki's kin is Hveðrung (roarer?), as in the skáldic poem Ynglingatal, the goddess Hel is called Hveðrungs mær (Hveðrung's daughter) and in the eddic poem Völuspá, the Fenris Wolf is called mögr Hveðrungs (Hveðrung's son). It should be noted that in Snorri's Edda, there is a section of skaldic verse that lists numerous heiti of Ódin, and one of these is Hveðrung. However, this poem appears to be a new creation, and this is not attested anywhere else as a name of Odin. 

Víli

This one is likely a typo, but its in the sources, so its in the blog. In one manuscript, Vili is rendered as Víli (wiles). Imagine having to distinguish between between /i/ and /í/, but here we are and on the off chance it is not an error, there is nothing unreasonable with "Wiley" as another heiti of Loki.


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