ᚺᚨᚱᛃᚨ

Proto-Norse

Etymology

Derived from Proto-Germanic *harjaz (“army”), from Proto-Indo-European *ker-. Looijenga sees it as an early West-Germanic form, with loss of final -z, derived from the tribal name of the Harii. It may also be an n-stem nickname deriving from a name beginning with *hari-.

Noun

ᚺᚨᚱᛃᚨ (harja)

1. (possibly) army leader; commander; warrior
   • 2nd century, inscription on the Vimose Comb:

     ᚺᚨᚱᛃᚨ

     harja

     commander

References

• Looijenga, Timeke (2003), Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions, pages 98-99. →ISBN