Kennings are metaphoric expressions used in Old Norse, Icelandic, and Anglo-Saxon poetry that replace nouns with compound words hyphenated together. They are poetic metaphors that describe things like swords as "light-of-battle" and armor as "fighting-gear." Modern examples include "bookworm" for someone who reads a lot and "hot potato" for something no one wants. Kennings were also used to describe aspects of battle like calling blood "battle-sweat" and weapons as "battle metal." People were described using kennings too, with warriors called "feeders of eagles" and kings referred to as "bringers of rings."

2. It is is a metaphoric expression that
replaces a name or a noun. Often it
is a compound of two words and the
words are hyphenated. Kennings
are usually associated with Old
Norse, Icelandic, and Anglo Saxon
poetry.

3. KENNING MEANING
Light-of-battle Sword
Fighting-gear, battle-gear Body armor
Battle-sweat Blood
Life would have ended [...]
under wide earth
Would have died

4. Modern Examples of Kennings
 Ankle-biter = a very young child
 Bean counter = a CPA or accountant
 Bookworm = someone who reads a lot
 Brown noser = person who does
anything to gain approval
 First Lady - wife of the president
 Four-eyes = someone who wears
glasses
 Head twister = owl
 Hot potato = something no one wants
 Mind-reader = A person who knows
what you are thinking
 Motor mouth = person who talks a lot
and/or fast
 Pencil pusher = person with a clerical
job
 Postman chaser = dog
 Rug rat = toddler or crawling baby
 Show-stopper = performance receiving
long applause
 Tree hugger = an environmentalist
 Tree swinger = monkey
 Tummy slider = penguin

5. Kennings Related to Battle
 Battle metal = weapons
 Battle-sweat = blood
 Black song = reaver’s
war cry
 Blood-ember = axe
 Bone-beak = axe
 Dew of slaughter = blood
 Feeding the eagle =
killing enemies
 Light-of-battle = sword
 Mind's worth = honor
 Toast of ravens = blood
 Traveling the Hel road =
dying
 War needles = arrows
 Weather of weapons =
large-scale battle
 Wound-hoe = sword

6. Kennings Related to People
 Bear shirt = berserker (Norse
warrior)
 Bringer of rings = chieftain
or king
 Children of battle = soldiers
 Feller of the life-webs =
slayer
 Feeder of eagles/ravens =
warrior
 Fire beater = smith
 Forseti’s favored = diplomat
 Girl of the houses = wife
 Lord of laughter = composer,
poet or Norse god Loki
 Ring giver = chief
 Rune caller = wizard
 Shield-gnawer = berserker
(Norse warrior)
 Slayer of giants = Thor