mjaðmir

Mjaðmir is a term of Old Norse origin. It is a plural form derived from the word mjaðr, which refers to mead. Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey, water, and sometimes fruits, spices, herbs, or grains. In Old Norse culture, mead held significant importance, often associated with feasts, celebrations, and mythological contexts.

The term mjaðmir, as a plural, would therefore refer to multiple servings or instances of mead. It could be used in a general sense to describe a quantity of mead or in a more specific context to denote different types or preparations of mead. The consumption of mead was a common practice among the Norse people, and its presence was often a symbol of hospitality and good fortune.

References to mead, and by extension mjaðmir, appear in various Old Norse texts, including the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. These literary works often depict gods and heroes drinking mead, reinforcing its cultural and symbolic value. The concept of mead also extends to the afterlife, with the hall of the god Bragi in Asgard described as containing a cauldron of mjaðr.