kenning Definition
a compound expression in Old English and Old Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning, e.g. 'whale-road' meaning 'the sea'.
Using kenning: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "kenning" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The kenning 'battle-sweat' is used to describe blood in Beowulf.
Example
The kenning 'ring-giver' is used to describe a king in Old English poetry.
Phrases with kenning
wave-floater
a kenning for a ship or boat in Old Norse poetry
Example
The wave-floater carried the Viking warriors across the sea.
sky-candle
a kenning for the sun in Old English poetry
Example
The sky-candle rose over the horizon, signaling the start of a new day.
bone-house
a kenning for the human body in Old English poetry
Example
The warrior's sword pierced his enemy's bone-house.
Summary: kenning in Brief
A 'kenning' [ˈkɛnɪŋ] is a compound expression used in Old English and Old Norse poetry to convey metaphorical meaning. Examples include 'whale-road' for 'the sea,' 'battle-sweat' for 'blood,' and 'ring-giver' for 'king.' Other examples are 'wave-floater' for 'ship,' 'sky-candle' for 'sun,' and 'bone-house' for 'human body.'
