mare

mare f (definite singular mara, indefinite plural marer, definite plural marene)

mara (definite singular)
marer (indefinite plural)
marene (definite plural)
Mara (alternative dialectal)
mara (alternative dialectal)
maru (alternative dialectal)
muru (alternative dialectal)
murru (alternative dialectal)


troll

troll n (definite singular trollet, indefinite plural troll, definite plural trolla)

trollet (definite singular)
troll (indefinite plural)
trolla (definite plural)
tròdl (alternative)
tròdd (alternative)
trøll (alternative)
trødl (alternative)
trødd (alternative)
træll (alternative)
trøull (alternative)
trøyll (alternative)

From Old Norse trǫll, from Proto-Germanic *truzlą, from Proto-Indo-European *dreh₂-.

Dat eine Trollet skræmer inkje dat andre.

1856, Ivar Aasen, Norske Ordsprog [Norwegian Proverbs]:


hug

hug m (definite singular hugen, indefinite plural hugar, definite plural hugane)

hugen (definite singular)
hugar (indefinite plural)
hugane (definite plural)
hau (alternative)

From Old Norse hugr (“thought”), from Proto-Germanic *hugiz og uncertain origin. Cognates include Norwegian Bokmål hu.

(uncountable, folklore) an itch in the nose which comes when someone is thinking of one, or as a warning that someone is about to arrive


kall

kall m (definite singular kallen, indefinite plural kallar, definite plural kallane)

kallen (definite singular)
kallar (indefinite plural)
kallane (definite plural)

From Old Norse karl, from Proto-Germanic *karilaz. Doublet of kar. Cognates include Elfdalian kall and Swedish karl.

(folklore) (a general term for) a male supernatural creature


grim

grim m (definite singular grimen, indefinite plural grimar, definite plural grimane)

grimen (definite singular)
grimar (indefinite plural)
grimane (definite plural)


jette

jette m (definite singular jetten, indefinite plural jettar, definite plural jettane)

jetten (definite singular)
jettar (indefinite plural)
jettane (definite plural)

From Danish jætte, from Old Norse jǫtunn, from Proto-Germanic *etunaz.


stele

stele m (definite singular stelen, indefinite plural stelar, definite plural stelane)

stelen (definite singular)
stelar (indefinite plural)
stelane (definite plural)

From Ancient Greek στήλη (stḗlē, “pillar”).

(archaeology) tall, slender stone monument, often with writing carved into its surface


kast

kast n (definite singular kastet, indefinite plural kast, definite plural kasta)

kastet (definite singular)
kast (indefinite plural)
kasta (definite plural)

From Old Norse kast.
(folklore): Compare Swedish offerkast.


orm

orm m (definite singular ormen, indefinite plural ormar, definite plural ormane)

ormen (definite singular)
ormar (indefinite plural)
ormane (definite plural)

From Old Norse ormr, from Proto-Germanic *wurmiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis. Akin to English worm.

(folklore) a mythical worm living in a human body parts, teeth or bones, causing various kinds of sickness

(folklore) any mythical dragon-like creature


rei

rei f (definite singular reia, indefinite plural reier, definite plural reiene)

reia (definite singular)
reier (indefinite plural)
reiene (definite plural)

From Old Norse reið, Proto-Germanic *raidō. Doublet of raide.


stallo

stallo m (definite singular stalloen, indefinite plural stalloar, definite plural stalloane)

stalloen (definite singular)
stalloar (indefinite plural)
stalloane (definite plural)

From Northern Sami stállu, from Proto-Samic *(s)tālō.

(folklore) a stallo (A humanoid malignant being known from Sami folklore.)


rå

rå f (definite singular råa, indefinite plural råer, definite plural råene)

råa (definite singular)
råer (indefinite plural)
råene (definite plural)


stemma

head

stemma (present tense stemmer, past tense stemde or stemte, past participle stemt, present participle stemmande, imperative stem)

stemmer (present)
stemde (past)
stemte (past)
stemt (participle past)
stemmande (participle present)
stem (imperative)

(folklore) to stop a bleeding by using magic power; to still blood


vette

vette n (definite singular vettet, indefinite plural vette, definite plural vetta)

vettet (definite singular)
vette (indefinite plural)
vetta (definite plural)

From Old Norse vettr, vættr f, from Proto-Germanic *wihtiz. Akin to English wight.


jøtul

jøtul m (definite singular jøtulen, indefinite plural jøtlar, definite plural jøtlane)

jøtulen (definite singular)
jøtlar (indefinite plural)
jøtlane (definite plural)
jutul (alternative)
jøtun (alternative)
jotun (alternative)
jøtøl (alternative)
jøtle (alternative)
jøtel (alternative)
jøtedl (alternative)
jutuli (alternative)
jùtel (alternative)
jutedl (alternative)

From Old Norse jǫtunn, from Proto-Germanic *etunaz. Doublet of jette and jotun.

(folklore) mountain-dwelling giant; giant living inside a mountain


nisse

nisse m (definite singular nissen, indefinite plural nissar, definite plural nissane)

nissen (definite singular)
nissar (indefinite plural)
nissane (definite plural)
niss (alternative)

From Danish nisse, from Nisse, a pet form of the common male given name Niels (cf. Norwegian Nils), which itself is a short form of Latin Nicolaus. As the name of a being possibly derived from St. Nicholas (St. Nils), compare Santa Claus and the Dutch Sinterklaas. Has to some degree replaced more traditional Norwegian names such as tufte(kall) and gardvord, which do not have religious connotations.

Elder den, som kunde faa fat i Bergkongen. Elder i Nissen, elder i ein Dverg, elder i nokot annat slikt.

1883, Arne Garborg, Bondestudentar [Farmer students]:

He who could only catch the Mountain King. Or the nisse, or a dwarf, or something else of that sort.

(folklore) a (small) being that lives in farmsteads; in modern times associated with Christmas.


tomte

tomte m (definite singular tomten, indefinite plural tomtar, definite plural tomtane)

tomten (definite singular)
tomtar (indefinite plural)
tomtane (definite plural)

From tomt, from Old Norse tompt. Doublet of tufte and tofte (“the oldest man on a farm”). Cognate with Swedish tomte.

doublet

(folklore, chiefly Eastern Norwegian) synonym of tufte


artefakt

artefakt m (definite singular artefakten, indefinite plural artefaktar, definite plural artefaktane)

artefakten (definite singular)
artefaktar (indefinite plural)
artefaktane (definite plural)

(archaeology) an artefact, or artifact (US)


Loke

Loken (definite)
Lokje (alternative)
Lòkje (alternative)

From Old Norse Loki, related to loge (“flame”). Cognate with Faroese and Icelandic Loki and Swedish Locke.

Lokje dengjer Bon’e sine.

Loke Langbein

(folklore) a being, wight (particularly one that lives in the fire):


kulturgjenstand

kulturgjenstand m (definite singular kulturgjenstanden, indefinite plural kulturgjenstandar, definite plural kulturgjenstandane)

kulturgjenstanden (definite singular)
kulturgjenstandar (indefinite plural)
kulturgjenstandane (definite plural)


varulv

varulv m (definite singular varulven, indefinite plural varulvar, definite plural varulvane)

varulven (definite singular)
varulvar (indefinite plural)
varulvane (definite plural)

From Middle Low German warwulf, from Proto-West Germanic *werawulf.


linnorm

linnorm m (definite singular linnormen, indefinite plural linnormar, definite plural linnormane)

linnormen (definite singular)
linnormar (indefinite plural)
linnormane (definite plural)

From Old Norse linnormr (“constrictor snake”). Cognate to English lindworm and German Lindwurm (“dragon”).

der

(folklore) A beast resembling a large, serpentine dragon; a lindworm


hamløypar

hamløypar m (definite singular hamløyparen, indefinite plural hamløyparar, definite plural hamløyparane)

hamløyparen (definite singular)
hamløyparar (indefinite plural)
hamløyparane (definite plural)

From Old Norse hamhleypa f. Compare Swedish hamnlöpare, Danish hamløber and Norwegian Bokmål hamløper.

(folklore) shapeshifter (usually a human changing his/her shape into a wolf or bear by will)


varp

varp n (definite singular varpet, indefinite plural varp, definite plural varpa)

varpet (definite singular)
varp (indefinite plural)
varpa (definite plural)

(folklore) a heap of stones set nearby a way or forest path because of different reasons. According to the traditional belief, the trespassers must throw stones, coins or sticks onto this heap.


gyger

gyger f (definite singular gygra, indefinite plural gygrar or gygrer, definite plural gygrane or gygrene)

gygra (definite singular)
gygrar (indefinite plural)
gygrer (indefinite plural)
gygrane (definite plural)
gygrene (definite plural)
gygr (alternative)
gjure (alternative dialectal)
gjøgr (alternative dialectal)
gyvr (alternative dialectal)
gyr (alternative dialectal)
gjør (alternative dialectal)
gjuvr (alternative dialectal)
gjur (alternative dialectal)
gjure (alternative dialectal)

(folklore, Norse mythology) a giantess, female jotun, female troll


spøkelse

spøkelse n (definite singular spøkelset, indefinite plural spøkelse, definite plural spøkelsa)

spøkelset (definite singular)
spøkelse (indefinite plural)
spøkelsa (definite plural)
spøkjelse (alternative)

(folklore) apparition, ghost, spectre, specter (US), spook


mellomalder

head

mellomalder m (definite singular mellomalderen)

mellom (“middle”) + alder (“age”); from German Mittelalter, calque of Latin medium aevum.


gravhaug

gravhaug m (definite singular gravhaugen, indefinite plural gravhaugar, definite plural gravhaugane)

gravhaugen (definite singular)
gravhaugar (indefinite plural)
gravhaugane (definite plural)


neolittisk

neolittisk (neuter singular neolittisk, definite singular and plural neolittiske)

neolittisk (neuter singular)
neolittiske (definite plural singular)

From neo- + Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos, “stone”) + -isk.


steinsirkel

steinsirkel m (definite singular steinsirkelen, indefinite plural steinsirklar, definite plural steinsirklane)

steinsirkelen (definite singular)
steinsirklar (indefinite plural)
steinsirklane (definite plural)


tuss

tuss m (definite singular tussen, indefinite plural tussar, definite plural tussane)

tussen (definite singular)
tussar (indefinite plural)
tussane (definite plural)
tusse (alternative)

From Old Norse þurs, þuss, from Proto-Germanic *þursaz, *þurisaz. Cognates include dialectal English thurse.

(folklore, also collective) a kind of subterranean wight


megalittisk

megalittisk (indefinite singular megalittisk, definite singular and plural megalittiske)

megalittisk (indefinite singular)
megalittiske (definite plural singular)


ufred

ufred m (definite singular ufreden, indefinite plural ufredar, definite plural ufredane)

ufreden (definite singular)
ufredar (indefinite plural)
ufredane (definite plural)

From u- + fred, or possibly inherited directly from Old Norse úfriðr.


gjø

gjø f (definite singular gjøa, indefinite plural gjøer, definite plural gjøene)

gjøa (definite singular)
gjøer (indefinite plural)
gjøene (definite plural)
go (alternative)
jo (alternative)

From Old Norse gói, gœ. Cognate with Icelandic góa and Swedish gya/göja. Attested as Giø-Maana by David Klim in the second half of the 17th century. Attested as Giøe by Jacob Nicolai Wilse in 1780 in his dictionary of Spydeberg dialect, referring to a period in January (perhaps confusing with Thorri). Attested by Hans Jacob Wille in 1786 as Giø, synonymous with February.

(folklore, Trøndersk, Nord-Gudbrandsdalen) a period between February 12 and March 13 associated with black magic


jutul

jutul m (definite singular jutulen, indefinite plural jutlar, definite plural jutlane)

jutulen (definite singular)
jutlar (indefinite plural)
jutlane (definite plural)

(folklore, Norse mythology) alternative form of jøtul (“giant”)


lyktemann

nn-noun-comireg

lyktemann m (definite singular lyktemannen, indefinite plural lyktemenn, definite plural lyktemennene)

lyktemannen (definite singular)
lyktemenn (indefinite plural)
lyktemennene (definite plural)

From lykt (“lantern”) + -e- + mann (“man”).

(folklore) will o' the wisp, thought to be children who died unbaptized, never finding their final rest


haugbu

haugbu m (definite singular haugbuen, indefinite plural haugbuar, definite plural haugbuane)

haugbuen (definite singular)
haugbuar (indefinite plural)
haugbuane (definite plural)

(folklore) a wight who lives in a burial mound and occasionally snatches human children


birkebeinar

birkebeinar m (definite singular birkebeinaren, indefinite plural birkebeinarar, definite plural birkebeinarane)

birkebeinaren (definite singular)
birkebeinarar (indefinite plural)
birkebeinarane (definite plural)

From earlier birkebein + -ar, the first part from Old Norse birkibeinn (plural birkibeinar). The un-suffixed form was made non-standard by an 2016 official spelling decision.

(history) a participant in an uprising in the 1170s Norway, and, in the following decades, an adherent to the successor political party.


lussinatt

lussinatt f (definite singular lussinatta, indefinite plural lussinetter, definite plural lussinettene)

lussinatta (definite singular)
lussinetter (indefinite plural)
lussinettene (definite plural)

From Lussi + natt (“night”). The first part was a norwegianized form of the Latin name Lucia (“Lucy”), after the 4th century Sicilian martyr Saint Lucy. However, in Norwegian folklore, Lussi came to refer to a wight, who would wreak havoc on the night of the winter solstice, as in the Julian calendar which was used at the time, winter solstice fell on Saint Lucy's. Due to her oft malignant nature, some have proposed a connection to Lucifer as an etymological influence.
Either name is related to lux (“light”), ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *lewk-.

(Christianity, folklore) eve of, night before the Day of Saint Lucy, December 13th, in folklore thought to be the longest night of the year


klabautermann

klabautermann m (definite singular klabautermannen, indefinite plural klabautermenn, definite plural klabautermennene)

klabautermannen (definite singular)
klabautermenn (indefinite plural)
klabautermennene (definite plural)


tufte

tufte m (definite singular tuften, indefinite plural tuftar, definite plural tuftane)

tuften (definite singular)
tuftar (indefinite plural)
tuftane (definite plural)
tuft (alternative)

From tuft (“ground, land, property”), from Old Norse tupt, topt, from Proto-Germanic *tumþiz and/or *tumftō. Compare Swedish tomte.

(folklore) a being that lives in (and guards) farmsteads, often thought to be the ancestor who cleared the land


gardvord

gardvord m (definite singular gardvorden, indefinite plural gardvordar, definite plural gardvordane)

gardvorden (definite singular)
gardvordar (indefinite plural)
gardvordane (definite plural)
gardsvord (alternative)

/²ɡaːɽ.vuːɽ/

From Old Norse garðvǫrðr, from garðr (“farm”) + vǫrðr (“ward”), whence also gard and vord. Cognate with Icelandic garðvörður.

So bar dei ut mat og øl åt gardvorden. Dette var den mannen som rudde og bygde garden, jamleg ein gamal ættfar

1965, Halldor O. Opedal, Hardangerminne: festskrift til Halldor O. Opedal på 70-årsdagen den 26. mai 1965, page 71:

Then they carried out foot and beer to the farm ward. This was the man who cleared and built the farm, often an old ancestor

Garvoren hev i mannatanken menneskeskapnad; men er jamt liten av vokster.

1996, Turstiar og kulturminne i Hovdebygda, Hovdebygda soge- og velferdslag, page 71:

The farm ward is thought to resemble a human, but is often small.


tuftekall

tuftekall m (definite singular tuftekallen, indefinite plural tuftekallar, definite plural tuftekallane)

tuftekallen (definite singular)
tuftekallar (indefinite plural)
tuftekallane (definite plural)
toftekall (alternative dialectal)

From tufte (“house spirit”) + kall (“man”).

(folklore) a male being that lives in (and guards) farmsteads


tuftekjerring

tuftekjerring f (definite singular tuftekjerringa, indefinite plural tuftekjerringar, definite plural tuftekjerringane)

tuftekjerringa (definite singular)
tuftekjerringar (indefinite plural)
tuftekjerringane (definite plural)

/²tʊftəçɛrɪŋ/

From tufte (“house spirit”) + kjerring (“woman, wife”).

compound

(folklore) a female being that lives in (and guards) farmsteads


feigdarfugl

feigdarfugl m (definite singular feigdarfuglen, indefinite plural feigdarfuglar, definite plural feigdarfuglane)

feigdarfuglen (definite singular)
feigdarfuglar (indefinite plural)
feigdarfuglane (definite plural)
fægdafåggel (alternative)
fægdføggel (alternative)
fegdafugl (alternative)

From feigd (“death omen”) + fugl (“bird”).

(folklore) a bird which gives omen that somebody will die soon


vardøger

vardøger n (definite singular vardøgeret, indefinite plural vardøger, definite plural vardøgera)

vardøgeret (definite singular)
vardøger (indefinite plural)
vardøgera (definite plural)
vardøge (alternative dialectal)
vardøgge (alternative dialectal)
vardøgle (alternative dialectal)
vardaug (alternative dialectal)
vardyvle (alternative dialectal)
vardyger (alternative dialectal)
Valdøger (alternative)

(folklore) a déjà vu in reverse, where the vardøger-spirit precedes a person in a location or activity, resulting in witnesses believing they've seen or heard the actual person before the person physically arrives. It can occur not only like a doppelganger of a person, but also a doppelganger of an animal or a car-driving person.


tussebit

tussebit m (definite singular tussebiten, indefinite plural tussebitar, definite plural tussebitane)

tussebiten (definite singular)
tussebitar (indefinite plural)
tussebitane (definite plural)

From tuss (“Subterranean”) + bit (“bite”). Literally, a bite of the Subterraneans.

(folklore) a damage from an unvisible bite of a mythical Subterranean wight. Can occur when walking on top of a Subterranean house, or if drinking water from a river at night time. May have parallels in other cultures under other names.


varskrik

varskrik n (definite singular varskriket, indefinite plural varskrik, definite plural varskrika)

varskriket (definite singular)
varskrik (indefinite plural)
varskrika (definite plural)

From vare (“to warn”) + skrik (“cry, scream”).

(folklore, Toten, Telemål) a sound from a swamp, which is traditionally explained as voice of a nøkk, who is warning that somebody is going to drown in the swamp soon


løysingsstein

løysingsstein m (definite singular løysingssteinen, indefinite plural løysingssteinar, definite plural løysingssteinane)

løysingssteinen (definite singular)
løysingssteinar (indefinite plural)
løysingssteinane (definite plural)

From løysing + -s- + stein. Compare Norwegian Bokmål løsningsstein.

(folklore) a stone-like object used for helping women to give birth according to old Norwegian and Sami folk medicine. Can be e.g. a tropical Entada bean taken by the Gulf Stream to the shore of North Norway


omnkall

omnkall m (definite singular omnkallen, indefinite plural omnkallar, definite plural omnkallane)

omnkallen (definite singular)
omnkallar (indefinite plural)
omnkallane (definite plural)

(folklore) a human-shaped statuette used e.g. as protection against evil spirits


gandfluge

gandfluge f (definite singular gandfluga, indefinite plural gandfluger, definite plural gandflugene)

gandfluga (definite singular)
gandfluger (indefinite plural)
gandflugene (definite plural)

From gand (“magic”) + fluge (“a fly”). Compare to Norwegian Bokmål gandflue and Swedish ganfluga.

(folklore) magic force in form of a fly, similar to Komi-Zyrian шева (ševa), Southern Sami gane-čurek and Northern Sami [Term?]; usually a disease sent through air by a wizard.


Svarteskolen

From svart (“black”) + -e- + skolen (“the school”). Similar to Icelandic Svartiskóli.

(folklore) a black magic school near Wittenberg, Germany


gandfugl

gandfugl m (definite singular gandfuglen, indefinite plural gandfuglar, definite plural gandfuglane)

gandfuglen (definite singular)
gandfuglar (indefinite plural)
gandfuglane (definite plural)

(folklore) magic force in form of a bird


soloffer

soloffer n (definite singular solofferet, indefinite plural soloffer, definite plural soloffera)

solofferet (definite singular)
soloffer (indefinite plural)
soloffera (definite plural)

(folklore) various forms of butter offering for the Sun practised in Norway


utburd

utburd m (definite singular utburden, indefinite plural utburdar, definite plural utburdane)

utburden (definite singular)
utburdar (indefinite plural)
utburdane (definite plural)
utbol (alternative)

From Old Norse útburðr. Attested as Vdboer in Christen Jensøn’s Norwegian Dictionary (1646).

(folklore) a ghost of a newborn baby, who died before it got baptized


skrikar

skrikar m (definite singular skrikaren, indefinite plural skrikarar, definite plural skrikarane)

skrikaren (definite singular)
skrikarar (indefinite plural)
skrikarane (definite plural)

(folklore, Trøndersk) an unbaptized baby ghost, the same as utburd


marekors

marekors n (definite singular marekorset, indefinite plural marekors, definite plural marekorsa)

marekorset (definite singular)
marekors (indefinite plural)
marekorsa (definite plural)
murukors (alternative dialectal)
marekross (alternative)

From mare (“mare, the evil night spirit”) + kors (“cross”).

(folklore) a pentagram or a pentacle carved in a wall (or on a door) with an iron knife (or painted with tar) as protection against evil spirits


Svarteboka

From svart (“black”) + -e- + boka (“the book”).

Svartboka (alternative)
Svarteboki (alternative)
Svartboki (alternative)
Svartebokja (alternative dialectal)
Svartbokja (alternative dialectal)

(folklore) a mythical book with instructions for use of different kinds of magic, written by St. Cyprianus (or Kyphrianus) or by the Devil himself. The book is said to be used in Svarteskolen or is coming from there.


svarteboksprest

svarteboksprest m (definite singular svartebokspresten, indefinite plural svarteboksprestar, definite plural svarteboksprestane)

svartebokspresten (definite singular)
svarteboksprestar (indefinite plural)
svarteboksprestane (definite plural)

(folklore) a priest suspected in use of occult magic, or a priest who is actually using it, especially due to possessing a magic book


bygdeborg

bygdeborg f (definite singular bygdeborga, indefinite plural bygdeborger, definite plural bygdeborgene)

bygdeborga (definite singular)
bygdeborger (indefinite plural)
bygdeborgene (definite plural)

From bygd (“village”) + borg (“castle, stronghold”).

(archaeology) remains of a special kind of fortification build between 1st and 7th centuries in Scandinavia, similar to Swedish fornborg

tjuveborg

roughly the same term, but used in folklore context


årevette

årevette n (definite singular årevettet, indefinite plural årevette, definite plural årevetta)

årevettet (definite singular)
årevette (indefinite plural)
årevetta (definite plural)

(folklore) a wight living under the hearth


bustein

bustein m (definite singular busteinen, indefinite plural busteinar, definite plural busteinane)

busteinen (definite singular)
busteinar (indefinite plural)
busteinane (definite plural)

(folklore) a magic stone or stone-like object used in old Norwegian folk medicine and folk veterinary


torevatn

nn-noun-unc

torevatn n (definite singular torevatnet, uncountable)

(folklore) rainwater (sometimes collected in a special hole in a stone), used in Northern European folk medicine


Salomos segl

Salomos segl n (definite singular Salomos seglet, indefinite plural Salomos segl, definite plural Salomos segla)

Salomos seglet (definite singular)
Salomos segl (indefinite plural)
Salomos segla (definite plural)

Calque of Latin sigillum Salomonis. As the white flower name of is similar to Swedish, English and Danish.

(folklore, tradition, magic) the Solomon's seal (the magic symbol in old and modern magic traditions in Norway, often like a hexagram)


Nyårsnavar

From nyår (“New Year”) + navar (“auger”).

Nyttårsnavar (alternative)
Nyttårsnåvvår (alternative)
Nyårsnåvvår (alternative)

(culture of Trøndelag, folklore) an auger-like monster which makes holes in house walls every New Year night


boltelås

head

boltelås m or n (definite singular boltelåsen or boltelåset, indefinite plural boltelåsar or boltelås, definite plural boltelåsane or boltelåsa)

boltelåsen (definite singular)
boltelåset (definite singular)
boltelåsar (indefinite plural)
boltelås (indefinite plural)
boltelåsane (definite plural)
boltelåsa (definite plural)

From bolt + lås. Similar to Swedish bultlås

(historical, archaeology) a kind of cylindrical padlock often used during 13-19th centuries, especially on doors and horse-drawn wagons


bjørnelås

bjørnelås m or n (definite singular bjørnelåsen or bjørnelåset, indefinite plural bjørnelåsar or bjørnelås, definite plural bjørnelåsane or bjørnelåsa)

bjørnelåsen (definite singular)
bjørnelåset (definite singular)
bjørnelåsar (indefinite plural)
bjørnelås (indefinite plural)
bjørnelåsane (definite plural)
bjørnelåsa (definite plural)
bjørnlås (alternative nonstandard)
bjønnlås (alternative nonstandard)

From bjørn (“bear”) + lås (“lock”). Literally, “bear-lock”

(historical, archaeology) a primitive door lock, often made of wood.


slagbjørn

slagbjørn m (definite singular slagbjørnen, indefinite plural slagbjørnar, definite plural slagbjørnane)

slagbjørnen (definite singular)
slagbjørnar (indefinite plural)
slagbjørnane (definite plural)

(folklore) A bear which prefers a carnivorous diet, especially which kills livestock and humans


myrbjørn

myrbjørn m (definite singular myrbjørnen, indefinite plural myrbjørnar, definite plural myrbjørnane)

myrbjørnen (definite singular)
myrbjørnar (indefinite plural)
myrbjørnane (definite plural)

(folklore) A bear which prefers a vegetarian diet


grasbjørn

grasbjørn m (definite singular grasbjørnen, indefinite plural grasbjørnar, definite plural grasbjørnane)

grasbjørnen (definite singular)
grasbjørnar (indefinite plural)
grasbjørnane (definite plural)

From gras + bjørn. Similar to Swedish gräsbjörn (“a young vegetarian bear”)


fakse

fakse m (definite singular faksen, indefinite plural faksar, definite plural faksane)

faksen (definite singular)
faksar (indefinite plural)
faksane (definite plural)
foksi (alternative)

(folklore) an idol-like figure (name of several wooden figures used until ca. year 1890 in Setesdal in the local para-heathen tradition)


sjødåp

nn-noun-unc

sjødåp m (definite singular sjødåpen, uncountable)

(folklore) a ritual, when a newborn child being taken on a boat into the sea got to drink sea water from an empty snailshell, with purpose to get along with the sea spirit when this child grows up as a fisherman or sailor


Gjallarbru

Gjallarbrua (definite)
Gjaddarbru (alternative)
Gjeddarbru (alternative)
Gjeddarbro (alternative)
Gjæddarbro (alternative)
Gjalarbro (alternative)
Gjallarbro (alternative)
Jedarbro (alternative)
Jeddarbro (alternative)
Jæddarbro (alternative)
Haddanbru (alternative)

Inherited from Old Norse Gjallarbrú, from Gjǫll (“mythic river”) + brú (“bridge”). Compare Swedish Gillebro and Danish Gældebro.

Eg hev gengid Gjallarbrui,
Hon er ekki god at gange,
Bikkja bit og ormen sting
Og stuten stend og stangar

I went on the Gjallarbru-bridge,
It isn't good to walk on
The dog bites and the snake stings
And the ox stands and butts

(folklore, Christianity) a legendary bridge through which the souls of humans go after death, mentioned in the Norwegian ballade “Draumkvedet”


var dokk

(folklore) a phrase said to the legendary subterranean people, when something which may harm them (e.g. a stone or boiling water), is going to be thrown on the ground


Olavskjelda

(folklore, Christianity) name of several wellheads in Norway attributed to Saint Olav


marekvist

head

marekvist m (definite singular marekvisten, indefinite plural marekvister or marekvistar, definite plural marekvistene or marekvistane)

marekvisten (definite singular)
marekvister (indefinite plural)
marekvistar (indefinite plural)
marekvistene (definite plural)
marekvistane (definite plural)
murrukvest (alternative)
murikvist (alternative)

(botany, folklore) witch's broom (a mutated tree branch)


marespjeld

marespjeld n (definite singular marespjeldet, indefinite plural marespjeld, definite plural marespjelda)

marespjeldet (definite singular)
marespjeld (indefinite plural)
marespjelda (definite plural)
muruspjeld (alternative dialectal)
muruspjell (alternative dialectal)
murruspjeld (alternative dialectal)
muruspjøll (alternative dialectal)

(folklore) a symbol, often similar to a chessboard, used against nightmare demons


Håkkå

(folklore) an islet on the coast of Trøndelag, Norway, nearby the Tarva islands. The islet was very swampy and had no vegetation other than heather. The islet sunk into the ocean around 1890-s. Local fishers used to throw fish on this islet in order to get good luck in fishing.


mannbjørn

mannbjørn m (definite singular mannbjørnen, indefinite plural mannbjørnar, definite plural mannbjørnane)

mannbjørnen (definite singular)
mannbjørnar (indefinite plural)
mannbjørnane (definite plural)

(folklore) a hamløypar which can transform into a bear


finnball

finnball m (definite singular finnballen, indefinite plural finnballar, definite plural finnballane)

finnballen (definite singular)
finnballar (indefinite plural)
finnballane (definite plural)

From finn + ball, referring to Sami shamans.
(hairball): Attested as finbal by Jacob Nicolai Wilse in 1780 in his dictionary of Spydeberg dialect.

(folklore) a magic hairball, which can be found in cow stomach

(folklore) magic force in form of a ball, e.g. a disease sent through air by a wizard, similar to gandfluge, Swedish villappaskott and Komi-Zyrian шева (ševa).


klumsa

klumsa (present tense klumsar, past tense klumsa, past participle klumsa, passive infinitive klumsast, present participle klumsande, imperative klumsa/klums)

klumsar (present)
klumsa (past)
klumsa (participle past)
klumsast (infinitive passive)
klumsande (participle present)
klumsa (imperative)
klums (imperative)
klumse (alternative)
klomse (alternative pronunciation-spelling)
klomsa (alternative pronunciation-spelling)

(folklore) to hex animals (usually cattle or bears)

(folklore) to hex somebody to be mute or lame


plyndringsgrop

plyndringsgrop f (definite singular plyndringsgropa, indefinite plural plyndringsgroper, definite plural plyndringsgropene)

plyndringsgropa (definite singular)
plyndringsgroper (indefinite plural)
plyndringsgropene (definite plural)

(archaeology) A depression on top of a tumulus made by digging activity of graverobbers


skrømt

skrømt n (definite singular skrømtet, indefinite plural skrømt, definite plural skrømta)

skrømtet (definite singular)
skrømt (indefinite plural)
skrømta (definite plural)
skrymt (alternative)

Attested at least since 1780. Probably related to skremma.


brudled

brudled n (definite singular brudledet, indefinite plural brudled, definite plural brudleda)

brudledet (definite singular)
brudled (indefinite plural)
brudleda (definite plural)
brurled (alternative)
brureled (alternative)
brudeled (alternative)
brudlid (alternative)
brule (alternative)
brudle (alternative)
brurle (alternative)
brurele (alternative)

From brud + led. Literally, “bride path”.

(folklore, archaeology, Setesdalsk, Sirdal dialect, Telemål) a line (or lines) of stones placed along a mountain path for wedding travels to a church from a village without a church; it is common to have a phallic stone (pikkstein) placed in such lines; there are over a hundred such places in Norway, but only one is still in use


vêrkvist

vêrkvist m (definite singular vêrkvisten, indefinite plural vêrkvister or vêrkvistar, definite plural vêrkvistene or vêrkvistane)

vêrkvisten (definite singular)
vêrkvister (indefinite plural)
vêrkvistar (indefinite plural)
vêrkvistene (definite plural)
vêrkvistane (definite plural)

From vêr + kvist. Literally, “weather twig”. Compare Norwegian Bokmål værkvist.

(folklore, mainly in Telemark) A piece of a pine or a spruce with a twig, attached to a wall, so that the twig is sticking out horizontally. According to popular belief, the twig goes down when rain is gonna come, and goes up when it is gonna be good weather.


hestbjørn

hestbjørn m (definite singular hestbjørnen, indefinite plural hestbjørnar, definite plural hestbjørnane)

hestbjørnen (definite singular)
hestbjørnar (indefinite plural)
hestbjørnane (definite plural)

From hest + bjørn. Literally, “horse bear”, referring to killing of horses and other livestock, compare Swedish hästbjörn.

(folklore) A bear which prefers a carnivorous diet, especially which kills livestock and humans


tanntroll

tanntroll n (definite singular tanntrollet, indefinite plural tanntroll, definite plural tanntrolla)

tanntrollet (definite singular)
tanntroll (indefinite plural)
tanntrolla (definite plural)

→ Finnish: hammaspeikko (calque)

From tann (“tooth”) + troll (“troll”); popularised by the 1949 book Karius og Baktus written by Thorbjørn Egner.

Brennheit elder iskald mat og drykk er reint gale for tennerne. Glasuren smell sund, og straks hev ein eit hôl, der tanntrolli ét seg inn; og so er det tannverk.

1899, Hulda Garborg, Heimestell, page 13:

Glowing hot or ice cold food and drinks are outright bad for the teeth. The glaze [i.e. enamel] breaks, and soon you have a hole, where the teeth trolls eat themselves in; and then there is tooth ache.

(folklore) a tooth troll, used metaphorically to teach children about tooth decay (caries)


såstein

såstein m (definite singular såsteinen, indefinite plural såsteinar, definite plural såsteinane)

såsteinen (definite singular)
såsteinar (indefinite plural)
såsteinane (definite plural)

From så + stein. Literally, “sowing stone”. May be coined by ethnographs or archaeologists, as the most of such stones known today were originally not called såstein, while most of the oldest ones have no known purpose.

(folklore) a phallic stone smeared with butter at a certain day of spring as a part of sowing ritual (after the Christianization of Norway)

(archaeology) any phallic stone, which could be used for such ritual, even before the Christianization


pikkstein

pikkstein m (definite singular pikksteinen, indefinite plural pikksteinar, definite plural pikksteinane)

pikksteinen (definite singular)
pikksteinar (indefinite plural)
pikksteinane (definite plural)

(folklore) A ritualistic phallic stone, especially used in brudled


nåljos

nåljos n (definite singular nåljoset, indefinite plural nåljos, definite plural nåljosa)

nåljoset (definite singular)
nåljos (indefinite plural)
nåljosa (definite plural)


draugljos

draugljos n (definite singular draugljoset, indefinite plural draugljos, definite plural draugljosa)

draugljoset (definite singular)
draugljos (indefinite plural)
draugljosa (definite plural)
drauvljøs (alternative)


daudmannljos

daudmannljos n (definite singular daudmannljoset, indefinite plural daudmannljos, definite plural daudmannljosa)

daudmannljoset (definite singular)
daudmannljos (indefinite plural)
daudmannljosa (definite plural)
daudmannsljos (alternative)
daumannljos (alternative)
daumannslys (alternative)
daudmannslys (alternative)
daumannlys (alternative)
daumannslys (alternative)

From daudmann + ljos. Literally, “dead man’s light”.


varljos

varljos n (definite singular varljoset, indefinite plural varljos, definite plural varljosa)

varljoset (definite singular)
varljos (indefinite plural)
varljosa (definite plural)

From vare + ljos. Literally, “warning light”. Compare varskrik.


Stor-Pe

Literally, “Big Pe”, where Pe is dialectal form of Per. The three stars of Orion’s belt, according to a superstition story, are three fishermen all having name Pe, and when the highest of them (Mintaka) is brightest, a storm will come soon.


gjera åt

gjera åt (present tense gjer åt, past tense gjorde åt)

(folklore) to heal (esp. by using magic)


gjera att

gjera att (present tense gjer att, past tense gjorde att)

(folklore) to find stolen things by using magic, e.g. to make the thief have pain until he returnes the stolen thing, or find out who the thief is or where the stolen thing is


vise att

vise att (present tense viser att, past tense viste att)

(folklore) to summon ghosts of dead people


haugety

nn-noun-unc

haugety n (definite singular haugetyet, uncountable)

haugetyet (definite singular)
haugty (alternative)

From haug + ty. Literally, “tumuli kin”.

(folklore, Nord-Gudbrandsdalen, Telemål, Numedalsmål) wights, who live in burial mounds


marekvast

marekvast m (definite singular marekvasten, indefinite plural marekvastar, definite plural marekvastane)

marekvasten (definite singular)
marekvastar (indefinite plural)
marekvastane (definite plural)
murukvast (alternative)
murugvåst (alternative)

From mare + kvast. Literally, “mare’s broom”.


byting

byting m (definite singular bytingen, indefinite plural bytingar, definite plural bytingane)

bytingen (definite singular)
bytingar (indefinite plural)
bytingane (definite plural)

(folklore) a changeling (a child of the Subterraneans that was secretly exchanged for a human child)


fjetra

fjetra (present tense fjetrar, past tense fjetra, past participle fjetra, passive infinitive fjetrast, present participle fjetrande, imperative fjetra/fjetr)

fjetrar (present)
fjetra (past)
fjetra (participle past)
fjetrast (infinitive passive)
fjetrande (participle present)
fjetra (imperative)
fjetr (imperative)
fjetre (alternative)

(folklore) to hex somebody to be lame (motionless)


tjærekors

tjærekors n (definite singular tjærekorset, indefinite plural tjærekors, definite plural tjærekorsa)

tjærekorset (definite singular)
tjærekors (indefinite plural)
tjærekorsa (definite plural)
tjærekross (alternative)
tjørekors (alternative)
tjørekross (alternative)
tjørukross (alternative Midlandsnormalen)
tjurukross (alternative dialectal)
tjurukors (alternative dialectal)
tjyrukross (alternative)

(folklore) a cross painted on a wall or door with tar as protection against evil spirits

Løe-kros

of the tar cross listed by David Klim in the 17th century


vadhald

vadhald n (definite singular vadhaldet, uncountable)

vadhaldet (definite singular)
vahaill (alternative Northern pronunciation-spelling)

From vad (“fishing line”) + hald (“grip”).

(folklore, Northern Norway) sexual intercourse before fishing, for the purpose of getting a good catch


draugkakk

draugkakk n (definite singular draugkakket, indefinite plural draugkakk, definite plural draugkakka)

draugkakket (definite singular)
draugkakk (indefinite plural)
draugkakka (definite plural)

From draug (“ghost, undead”) + kakk (“knock”).

com

Ein gong døydde det ei ung jente på ein av Klungervik-gardane. Ei gamal kjerring hørte draugkakk eit par dagar føreå[t]. Det er vel ei hundre år sidan no.

1969, Henrik Sødal, I gammeltida: folkeminne frå Hemne prestegjeld, page 116:

One time, a young girl died on one of the Klungervik farms. An old woman heard ghost knocks a couple of days beforehand. It must be some hundred years ago now.

(folklore) a death omen in the form of knocking sounds in the walls of a house