Etymology

galdr

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Today it means: An ancient form of shamanic chanting, an improvisational magical song, especially for a protective effect. Compare the custom of the joik and other chanting traditions among the Sámi shamanic noaidi who shares mutual influence with the Norse shamanic vǫlva and other Norse magical customs. Full definition →

Old Norse galdr
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The story

  1. Old Norse · borrowed fromgaldr“witchcraft, sorcery, magic arts”
  2. English todaygaldr

Borrowed from Old Norse galdr (“witchcraft, sorcery, magic arts”), akin to Old English ġealdor (“incantation, magic”). Related to English gale, yell.

Words from the same roots

Old Norsegaldr all →

galder

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.