Younger Futhark · Týr's Ætt
Ýr
“Yew bow / Yew tree” · sound R (final) / Y · EER
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What Ýr means
The yew is the tree of death and endurance — its wood makes the finest bows, its needles are poisonous, and it outlives all other trees
In the older 24-rune Elder Futhark, Ýr corresponds to Eihwaz.
Ýr 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.
Ýr er vetrgrønstr viða; / vænt er, er brennr, at sviða.
“Yew is the greenest tree in winter; it tends to singe when it burns.”
Ýr er bendr bogi / ok brotgjarnt járn / ok fífu fárbauti.
“Yew is a bent bow / and brittle iron / and the giant of the arrow.”