Talk:Heiti

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Someone with a better knowledge of Old Norse (or at least, Norse poetical terms) should explain the difference between a kent heiti and an ókent heiti. I dimly recall hearing those terms explained in a college course on Norse poetry, but can't remember the difference nowadays. ISNorden 22:53, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

With nothing more than a vague promise, I think I can remedy the confusion while adding my own.

• A heiti is a rarely used single word, almost exclusive to poetry, denoting such things as swords, horses, women and so on.
• A kenning is a circumlocation which can be rather hard to understand, unless you are well versed in the story behind it.

I have never heard of a distiction being made between kennd or ókennd heiti.

Your professor of yore might have been referring to those heiti, where the etymology is known and those that are not. That is just speculation, of course. But the terms heiti and kenning have precisely one meaning each, as I can recall, and I think Snorri Sturluson agrees with me.

All the best Io 19:48, 17 November 2006 (UTC)