shieldmaiden
nounEtymology From shield + maiden. Calque from Old Norse skjaldmær (“shieldmaiden”).
1
Human sciences, Mysticism, Mythology, Philosophy, Sciences Norse A female virgin who had chosen to fight as a warrior in battle.
- The shield-maiden (skölde-mö) was dedicated to Odin, and forbidden to wed; her love brought calamity.1845 [1832–1836], Erik Gustaf Geijer, translated by J. H. Turner, The History of the Swedes, London: Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane, translation of Svenska folkets historia (in Swedish), page 33:
- The Anglosaxon belief in the Shieldmaidens comes to us indeed in a darkened form, yet we can hardly doubt that it survived.1849, John Mitchell Kemble, The Saxons in England:
2 more examples
- Störkud rushed through the ranks with a drawn sword and killed one after another; he cut down Hjört; whereupon Visma, shieldmaiden, who carried the standard of Harald, met him.1890, Paul Belloni Du Chaillu, The Viking Age: The Early History, Manners, and Customs of the Ancestors of the English-speaking Nations, volume 2:
- There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North!1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, →ISBN, page 262:
- Synonyms
- shieldmaid, shield-maid, shieldmay, shield-may
- Related terms
- amazon, Amazon, fighteress, fightress, gladiatrix, valkyrie, virago, warrioress