Note 272 — SECTION IX. CATALOGUE-RAISONNÉ OF MODERN TRAVELS IN ICELAND—PREPARATIONS FOR TRAVEL.

Skáldr (Germ. Schalte) means a pole; and inasmuch as the Scald-pole (Skáld-stöng or Níð-stöng) was scored with charms and imprecations—as Martin Capella (fifth century) writes:

“Barbara fraxineis sculpatur runa tabellis;”—

so “pole” came to signify a libel. Hence Skáld may be akin to the Germ. Schelten, and the familiar English “Scold.” Afterwards it took the meaning of poetry in a good sense, and Skáldskapr (Skaldship) was applied to the form of verse, metre, flow, and diction (Cleasby). It is hardly necessary to observe that the word is of disputed origin, the five general derivations being Skalla (depilare), Skiael (wisdom = our “skill”), Skjall (narratic), Skal (sources), and Gala (to sing). “Hirðskáld” corresponds with our poet-laureate.