Younger Futhark · Freyr's Ætt
Kaun
“Sore / Ulcer / Boil” · sound K · KOWN
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What Kaun means
Pain, illness, the wound that forces transformation — what festers must be opened before it heals
In the older 24-rune Elder Futhark, Kaun corresponds to Kenaz.
Kaun in the rune poems
The Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems are the medieval testimony to the sixteen Younger Futhark runes — the oldest verse describing each stave by name.
Kaun er barna bölvan; / böl gørver nán fölvan.
“Sore is the curse of children; grief makes a man pale.”
Kaun er barna böl / ok bardaga fo̧r / ok holdfúa hús.
“Sore is children's bane / and a battle-mark / and the house of rotting flesh.”