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Smedenlassen

Smedenlassen is an obscure term that appears in a limited set of Nordic-language sources. It is a compound thought to derive from smeden, the Scandinavian word for "smith," combined with lassen, a suffix that occurs in various regional dialects and place names. Because the term is not widely standardized in dictionaries or encyclopedias, its exact meaning varies by source and region, and there is no single, universally accepted definition in English-language reference works.

In usage, smedenlassen has been interpreted in several ways. Some sources describe it as a traditional blacksmithing

Etymologically, smedenlassen derives from smeden plus lassen, but the precise semantic contribution of lassen is variable;

See also: Blacksmithing, Dialect vocabulary, Nordic folklore.

tool
or
device—a
small
clamp
or
jig
used
to
hold
metal
during
shaping.
Other
accounts
treat
it
as
a
historical
term
for
a
period
or
arrangement
of
apprenticeship
or
a
smith’s
work-time
allotment,
akin
to
a
lending
of
access
to
a
forge.
In
some
regions
the
expression
may
function
as
a
place-name
or
workshop
designation,
referring
to
where
a
smith
conducts
his
craft.
it
can
reflect
diminutive,
locational,
or
nominal
suffixing
patterns
in
regional
dialects.
Given
the
scarcity
of
authoritative
sources,
regional
dictionaries
and
archives
are
the
best
avenues
for
a
precise,
source-based
definition.