89 Colorful Kennings

by Thilo Graf
A kenning is a play on words that replaces a concept, usually a single word, with more figurative language.
Often associated with the Norse skalds, kennings draw on cultural and mythical knowledge. That being said,
they are immensely useful and imaginative ways to add flavor and a unique cultural feeling to your game!

Kennings Related to Weather and Places

Ancestors watcha stone circle.

Boreass burningsnow blindness.
Elf-glorythe sun.
Feathers fallfalling snow.
Frozen roadice-covered river.
Green clearingshamans gathering
place.
Northern kisscold wind.
River-bonerock.
Ship of nightthe moon.
Skys black cloaknightfall.
Swan-roadthe sea.
Thors laughterthunder.
Whale-waythe sea.
Weather of wolvesharsh winter (can
also allude to the end times, or Fenriss
rising).
Winters bladecold wind.
Winters blanketsnow.
Winter spearicicle.
girs daughterswaves

Kennings Related to People and

Professions

Bear shirtberserker.
Children of battlesoldiers or raiders.
Fire beatersmith.
Feller of the life-websslayer.
Feeder of eagles/ravenswarrior.
Forsetis favoreddiplomat.
Lord of laughterskald, or possibly Loki.
Naglfars favoriteperson who does not
burn their dead/cut their nails, thus
furthering the completion of Naglfar and
consequently, Ragnarok (could also be
applied to necromancers).
Ring giverjarl.
Rune callerwizard.
Shield-gnawerberserker.

Kennings Related to Battle and Death

Battle metalweapons.
Bed shamedying of disease or old age.
Black songreavers war cry.
Bright wayburning of a dead reaver
with his ship.
Bone-beakaxe.
Dew of slaughter, toast of ravens
blood.
Feeding the eaglekilling enemies.
Giants back scratcherDanish ax or
greataxe.
Head of Heimdallrsword.
Lokis shacklesentrails.
Shield-biting hawkhatchet or throwing
axe.
Straw deathdeath by disease or old age.
Surtrs blazesword (in good condition).
Traveling the Hel roaddying.
Tyrfingrs kincursed weapon.
Un-bloodedman not yet tested in battle.
War needlesarrows.
Weather of weaponslarge-scale battle.
White deathkilled by an avalanche.

Kennings Related to Gods and Giants

Choker of manNidhggr (could be used

for any powerful linnorm).
Doom of Heimdallr, father of the seas
threadLoki.
Cloud scraper, shadow on the sky
candlejotun.
Kin of LokiFenris.
King of skaldsinn.
Pus-spewerJrmungandr (MidgardSnake).

Kennings Related to Animals and

Mythological Creatures

Bow-ladyvalkyrie.
Cattle tripper, red jowl, lolling jaws,
hounds of raveningwolves and worgs.
Eagles heraldsquirrel (reference to
communication between dragon Nidhggr
and the eagle).
Eater of runestupilak.
Eye of innraven.
Fenris thirstnightgarm.
Fjord branch of nailsNaglfar.
Grasping gold curlerlinnorm.
Honey hawkowlbear.
Horse of the hangedYggdrassil.
Howling mothernightgarm.
Icicle woman, leman of the snowsice
maiden.
Light elfliosalfar.
Skitter in the ice, termite of the sea
kraken spawn.
Sons of the thurs runethursir.
White jawswinter wolf.
Wound starlingraven.

Other Kennings

Balders giftmistletoe.
Branches of fjordship.
Cattle-kinderogatory term for people
who cant defend themselves.
Dragons bilepoison.
Draught of giantsskalds mead/sudden
(poetic) realization.
Forsetis failureunjust decisions.
Friggs lapsemistletoe.
Igniter of wavesbile of
Jrmungandr/poison.
Lindworm clawsskates.
Mimirs warningprophecy (of doom).
inns furrowsrunes.
Ribs of Ullskis.
Ring-richgenerous person.
Sindris giftwealth/affluence.
Strong brewmistletoe as an ingredient.
Uncut threaddestiny to be fulfilled/life.
Wind racershorses.
Wolfs jointwrist.