Fáfnir

Old Norse

Etymology

Derived from faðma +‎ -na +‎ -ir, literally “fathomer”. The spelling fáfn- steems from an excrescence following the m, introducing a short /b/ or /p/, in turn morphing into an /f/, thus something akin to /faðmnair/ → /faðmb͡hnair/ → /fahmb͡hnir/ → /fámhp͡hnir/ → /fáfnir/ (compare Danish favne, Old Swedish fampna, fambna, from Old Norse faðma, “fathom”).

Proper noun

Fáfnir m

  1. the one who embraces; the name of a dragon

Descendants

  • Faroese: Fávnir
  • Icelandic: Fáfnir
  • → Swedish: Fafner, Fafne
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