Name | Proto-Germanic | Old English | Old Norse |
---|---|---|---|
*Kauną? | Cēn | Kaun | |
? | "torch" | "ulcer" | |
Shape | Elder Futhark | Futhorc | Younger Futhark |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Unicode | ᚲ U+16B2 | ᚳ U+16B3 | ᚴ U+16B4 |
Transliteration | k | c | k |
Transcription | k | c | k, g |
IPA | [k] | [k], [c], [tʃ] | [k], [g] |
Position in rune-row | 6 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/K-runes.jpg/300px-K-runes.jpg)
The k-rune ᚲ (Younger Futhark ᚴ, Anglo-Saxon futhorc ᚳ) is called Kaun in both the Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems, meaning "ulcer". The reconstructed Proto-Germanic name is *Kauną. It is also known as Kenaz ("torch"), based on its Anglo-Saxon name.
The Elder Futhark shape is likely directly based on Old Italic c (, 𐌂) and on Latin C. The Younger Futhark and Anglo-Saxon Futhorc shapes have parallels in Old Italic shapes of k (
, 𐌊) and Latin K (compare the Negau helmet inscription). The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌺 k, called kusma.
The shape of the Younger Futhark kaun rune (ᚴ) is identical to that of the "bookhand" s rune in the Anglo-Saxon futhorc. The ᚴ rune also occurs in some continental runic inscriptions. It has been suggested that in these instances, it represents the ch /χ/ sound resulting from the Old High German sound shift (e.g. ᛖᛚᚴ elch in Nordendorf II).[1]
Rune Poem:[2] | English Translation: |
Old Norwegian
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Old Icelandic
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Anglo-Saxon
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Notes:
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References
- ^ Tineke Looijenga, Texts & contexts of the oldest Runic inscriptions, BRILL, 2003, ISBN 978-90-04-12396-0, p. 129.
- ^ Original poems and translation from the Rune Poem Page.