Gjallarbru
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Norwegian Nynorsk
Alternative forms
- Gjaddarbru, Gjeddarbru, Gjeddarbro, Gjæddarbro
- Gjalarbro, Gjallarbro
- Jedarbro, Jeddarbro, Jæddarbro
- Haddanbru
Etymology
Inherited from Old Norse Gjallarbrú, from Gjǫll (“mythic river”) + brú (“bridge”). Compare Swedish Gillebro and Danish Gældebro.
Proper noun
Gjallarbru f (definite Gjallarbrua)
- (folklore, Christianity) a legendary bridge through which the souls of humans go after death, mentioned in the Norwegian ballade “Draumkvedet”
- 184x, M.B. Landstad, Draumkvedet:
- 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
- I went on the Gjallarbru-bridge,
- (Norse mythology) Gjallarbrú (a bridge on the way from Hel)
Usage notes
After the Christianisation of Norway, the name survived in a Christian context where it remained as the bridge to the death realm.