Drightin

Drightin (Old English: "dryhtin", Old Norse: "dróttin") was a northern European title for nobility corresponding to "prince" in a broader sense. The Scandinavian name for Queen, "drottning" is derived from this title. After Christianisation, the term began to be used for God (meaning "the Lord") both in English and in the Scandinavian languages.

Etymology

The same word existed in Old Saxon: "drohtin", Old English: "dryhten", Old High German: "truhtin". The word comes from Proto-Germanic *"druhtinaz" and is derived from "druhti"- meaning "war band". In this sense the word appears as Icelandic: "drótt", Old English: "dryht", Old High German: "truht". In Gothic appears the verb "driugan" meaning "to do military service". In Old English "dréogan" and in Icelandic "drygia" appear, both meaning "to perform". The root is the same as in Slavic "drug" meaning "companion" (see druzhina).

Mythology

In the Heimskringla, Snorri Sturluson wrote that Domar married Drott, the daughter of Danp who was the son of Ríg (Heimdall).

Snorri wrote::"Dygvi's mother was Drótt, a daughter of King Danp, the son of Ríg, who was first called "konungr" in the Danish tongue. His descendants always afterwards considered the title of konungr the title of highest dignity. Dygvi was the first of his family to be called konungr, for his predecessors had been called dróttinn ['chieftain'] , and their wives dróttning, and their court drótt ['war band'] . Each of their race was called Yngvi, or Ynguni, and the whole race together Ynglingar. Queen Drótt was a sister of King Dan Mikillati, from whom Denmark took its name."

ee also

*Names of God in Old English poetry

External sources

* [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/odin/odin-1.htm The Masks of Odin by Elsa-Brita Titchenell]