Younger Futhark · Freyr's Ætt
Óss
“God / River mouth / Estuary” · sound O (also A) · OHSS
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What Óss means
Divine speech, the breath of the gods, the place where the river meets the sea — communication between worlds
In the older 24-rune Elder Futhark, Óss corresponds to Ansuz.
Óss 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.
Óss er flæstra færða / fo̧r; en skalpr er sværða.
“Estuary is the way of most journeys; but the sheath is of swords.”
Óss er algingautr / ok Ásgarðs jöfurr / ok Valhallar vísi.
“God is the aged Gautr (Odin) / and Asgard's prince / and lord of Valhalla.”