Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

Some monosyllabic names ending in -r are sometimes unlatinized, as Alf, Ulf,
Sten, Ring, Rolf, and sometimes Latinized with -o, as Alvo, Ulvo, Steno, Ringo, Rolvo.
Álfr is also found Latinized as Alverus.
From the above lists of names it follows that Saxo's rules for Latinizing Norse
names ending with the nominative -r after a consonant were these:
(1) Monosyllabic names (seldom a dissyllabic one, as Svipdagr) are Latinized
with the ending -erus or the ending -o.
(2) Names of two or more syllables which do not end in -arr (rarely a name of
one syllable, as Bíldr) are Latinized with the ending -us.
(3) Names ending in -arr are Latinized with -arus; in a few cases (and then on
account of the Danish pronunciation) with -erus.
From the above rules it follows (1) that Gefr, if such a name existed, would have
been Latinized by Saxo either into Geverus, Geferus, or into Gevo, Gefo; (2) that Gevarr
is the regular Norse for Gevarus.
The only possible meaning of the name Gevarr, considered as a common noun is
"the ward of the atmosphere" from ge (gæ; see Nafnaþulur (veðra heiti), and Egilsson,
227) and -varr. I cite this definition not for the purpose of drawing any conclusions
therefrom, but simply because it agrees with the result reached in another way. 3
The other name of Nanna's father is, as we have seen, Nökkvi, Nökkver. This
word means the ship-owner, ship-captain. 4 If we compare these two names, Gevarr and
Nökkver, with each other, then it follows from the comparison that Nanna's father was a
mythic person who operated in the atmosphere or had some connection with certain
phenomena in the air, and particularly in connection with a phenomenon there of such a
kind that the mythic fancy could imagine a ship. The result of the comparison should be
examined in connection with a strophe by Thorbjorn Hornklofi, which I shall now
consider.
Thorbjorn was the court-skald of Harald Fairhair, and he described many of the
king's deeds and adventures. Harald had at one time caused to be built for himself and his
body-guard a large and stately ship, with a beautiful figure-head in the form of a serpent.
On board this ship he was overtaken by a severe gale, 5 which Hornklofi (Haralds saga
Hárfagra, ch. 9) describes in the following words:
... út á mar mætir
mannskæðr lagar tanna
3 The word gæ occurs only in the very late Nafnaþulur as a synonym for "wind" or "weather," rather than
"atmosphere" (luftkrets) as Rydberg states. These vedra heiti are among the numerous Þulur found in late
paper manuscripts, thought to be spurious and not included in the standard editions of the Snorri's Edda. In
regard to gæ, Egilsson observes: "The word is probably identical to the Norwegian gjö, corresponding to
the Icelandic gói, góa, the winter-month (February 20 - March 20)."
4 Nökkvi means "a small boat." (Vigfusson's Dictionary pg. 461) The meaning of Nökkver is uncertain.
5 Actually Haralds saga Hárfagra says nothing of the sort. Here Rydberg has overextended his poetic
license.