þröskuldum

þröskuldum is the dative plural form of the Old Norse word þreskǫldr, meaning threshold or doorway. In Old Norse literature and sagas, references to þröskuldum often appear in descriptions of entering or leaving buildings, homes, or sacred spaces. The threshold itself held symbolic significance, representing a boundary between the inside and the outside, the familiar and the unknown, or the domestic and the public sphere. Stepping over the þröskuldum could mark a transition, a commitment, or a point of no return. The act of crossing this threshold was sometimes accompanied by rituals or customs. For instance, it was common to carry a bride over the threshold on her wedding day, symbolizing her transition into her new life and home. Similarly, warriors might pause at the þröskuldum before departing for battle. The word appears in various contexts, highlighting its fundamental role in the physical and conceptual understanding of built environments in the Norse world.