Veiddan

Veiddan is a term that, in a general sense, denotes the act of pursuing or capturing something, most often game or fish, and by extension ideas or knowledge when used metaphorically. The word is usually understood as derived from veiði, the Icelandic noun for hunting or fishing, with a nominalizing suffix that signals “the act” or “the process.” In standard Icelandic usage, the more common nouns for hunting or fishing are veiði and veiðin, while veiddan appears primarily in literary or dialectal contexts as a stylistic variant.

In historical and cultural contexts, veiða and veiði are the traditional terms associated with hunting and fishing, whereas veiddan is encountered mainly in texts that aim for a poetic or archaizing tone. In such uses, it can convey a sense of method, patience, and craft—the disciplined pursuit of a target through careful tracking and endurance. In modern writing and some linguistic discussions, veiddan may be employed as a stylistic device to emphasize the processual nature of pursuit, whether of physical game or abstract aims like truth or insight.

Overall, veiddan is not a widely attested or standard term in contemporary Icelandic dictionaries. It is best understood as a literary or stylistic variant that highlights the act of pursuit, rather than as a common everyday noun. See also veiði, veiða, hunt, pursuit.