þvagleka

þvagleka is an Old Norse term that translates literally to "thong-leak" or "thong-urine." In historical context, it refers to a type of medieval punishment or humiliation. This practice involved forcing a person, often a woman or someone of lower status, to urinate on their own clothing or a thong (a strip of leather or cloth) and then be forced to wear it.

The act was intended to be deeply shameful and degrading, serving as a public marker of perceived wrongdoing or impurity. While specific instances and the exact nature of þvagleka can vary in historical accounts, it is generally understood as a form of social control and punishment designed to inflict emotional and psychological distress rather than physical harm. It is mentioned in some Old Norse sagas and legal texts, though its prevalence and precise application are subjects of scholarly interpretation. The term itself highlights the importance of cleanliness and social standing in medieval Scandinavian societies, and how transgressions could be met with ritualized humiliation.