Kaunan

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Name Proto-Germanic Anglo-Saxon Old Norse
*Kaunan(?) Cen Kaun
 ? "torch" "ulcer"
Shape Elder Futhark Futhorc Younger Futhark
Unicode ᚲ
U+16B4
 ᚳ
U+16B3
 ᚴ
U+16B4
Transliteration k c k
Transcription k c k, g
IPA [k] [k], [c] [k], [g]
Position in rune-row 6
The evolution of the rune in the elder futhark during the centuries.
The evolution of the rune in the elder futhark during the centuries.

The k-rune ᚲ (Younger Futhark ᚴ, Anglo-Saxon futhorc ᚳ) is called Kaun in both the Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems, meaning "ulcer". The reconstructed Proto-Germanic name is *Kaunan. It is also known as Kenaz ("torch"), based on its Anglo-Saxon name.

The Elder Futhark shape is likely directly based on Old Italic c C 𐌂 / Latin C. The Younger Futhark / Futhorc shapes have parallels in Old Italic shapes of k K 𐌊, Latin K (compare the Negau helmet inscription). The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌺 k, called kusma.

Rune Poem:[1] English Translation:

Old Norwegian
ᚴ Kaun er barna bǫlvan;
bǫl gørver nán fǫlvan.


Ulcer is fatal to children;
death makes a corpse pale.

Old Icelandic
ᚴ Kaun er barna böl
ok bardaga [för]
ok holdfúa hús.
flagella konungr.


Disease fatal to children
and painful spot
and abode of mortification.

Anglo-Saxon
ᚳ Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre
blac ond beorhtlic, byrneþ oftust
ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ.


The torch is known to every living man
by its pale, bright flame; it always burns
where princes sit within.
Notes:
  • The Icelandic poem is glossed with Latin flagella "whip".
  • The Anglo-Saxon poem gives the name cen "torch".

[edit] References

  1. ^ Original poems and translation from the Rune Poem Page.


Runes See also: Rune poems · Runestones · Runology · Runic divination
Elder Fuþark: ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᚱ ᚲ ᚷ ᚹ ᚺ ᚾ ᛁ ᛃ ᛇ ᛈ ᛉ ᛊ ᛏ ᛒ ᛖ ᛗ ᛚ ᛜ ᛞ ᛟ          
Anglo-Saxon Fuþorc: ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚩ o ᚱ ᚳ c ᚷ ȝ ᚹ ᚻ ᚾ ᛁ ᛄ ᛇ eo ᛈ ᛉ x ᛋ ᛏ ᛒ ᛖ ᛗ ᛚ ᛝ ᛞ ᛟ œ   ᚪ a ᚫ æ ᚣ y ᛠ ea
Younger Fuþark: ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚬ ą ᚱ ᚴ     ᚼ ᚾ ᛁ ᛅ a       ᛋ ᛏ ᛒ   ᛘ ᛚ       ᛦ ʀ        
Transliteration: f u þ a r k g w · h n i j ï p z s · t b e m l ŋ d o