Meanings
odalism1
- historicaluncountableA system of heritable freehold property rights to odal land.
But the King's sagacity had found the pear not ripe — Odalism was sick, but not dead — the project was deferred, and no open attempt was renewed to feudalize the Islands for another generation.
1859, David Balfour, Oppressions of the Sixteenth Century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland: From Original Documents2 more examples
Odalism had this peculiarity: that by whatever means the primal occupant obtained his lands, these descended, free of all service, to his descendants. But we could never understand why an Odaller, who rested on such right alone, should complain if his neighbour, coveting his vineyard, should, by the strong hand, oust him from his allodium.
1861 June 22, David Balfour, “Odal Rights and Feudal Wrongs: a Memorial for Orkney”, in The Athenaeum, page 828I therefore pass by the long tale of oppression in the islands under Scottish rule, the subversion of the native laws, the imposition of the feudal system upon the odalism of the north, the appropriation of the greater part of the land by adventurers from Scotland; in short, the ruin of the native race.
1887, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Odalism2
- A white nationalist ideology that claims European countries as the exclusive property (odal) of white people.
A principal distinction to draw between Satanism and Odalism is the national socialist connotations of the latter movement.
2017, Jason Wallin, Jeffrey Podoshen, Vivek Venkatesh, “Second wave true Norwegian black metal: an ideologically evil music scene?”, in Arts and the Market, volume 7, number 22 more examples
Although the father-of-three denounced Breivik for killing Norwegians, the mass murderer is a known fan of Vikernes’ music and his promotion of the racist, anti-semitic ideology of Odalism.
2013 July 16, Luke Wilson, “Neo-Nazi murderer Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes arrested for 'plotting major terrorist act' in France”, in MetroIn his website he constantly writes articles defending Odalism ideology based on the idea that white Europeans should readopt native European values, namely those belonging to the traditional paganism.
2016, Jose Fillipe P.M. Silva, “Black Metal: history, trace of character and archetype”, in Keep It Simple, Make It Fast! An approach to underground music scenes, page 216
Origin
Odalism · proper noun
- Old Norseóðal
- EnglishOdalism
Neologism, formed from Old Norse óðal (whence also odal) + -ism.
More words from Old Norse
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
odalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/odalism
“odalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/odalism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “odalism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/odalism.
Source: odalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.