Poetic byname for gods, heroes, or objects in skaldic verse.
Heiti are simple synonyms or poetic names that replace everyday words in skaldic verse. Unlike kennings they consist of a single word without a compound metaphor.
Snorri Sturluson compiled lists of heiti in Skáldskaparmál to help skalds understand older poetry. The term covers everything from divine names to designations for sea and sword.
Attestations
- Snorri Sturluson, Skáldskaparmál (ca. 1220)
- Primary source for the classification of heiti.