skald

Where does the word "skald" come from? It comes from Old Norse skáld, and was adopted directly into English (1760s).

Skald’s story begins in Old Norse: skáld meant “poet.” Court poets, many of them Icelanders such as Egill Skallagrímsson, praised Norwegian kings in intricate verse. It reached English by 1760s as skald. English readers met Norse poetry through translations such as Thomas Percy's 'Five Pieces of Runic Poetry' of 1763. Today, skald means an ancient Scandinavian poet, especially at a royal court.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · 800s-1200s skáld "poet", court poets, many of them Icelanders such as Egill Skallagrímsson, praised Norwegian kings in intricate verse.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1760s skald "Norse court poet", English readers met Norse poetry through translations such as Thomas Percy's 'Five Pieces of Runic Poetry' of 1763.