Lindworm

Lindworm

Also known as a "snake" (ormr) or "dragon" (dreki), lindworms were popular motifs on runestones in 11th century Sweden. This runestone is identified as U 871.
Grouping	Cryptid
Other name(s)	Lindworm snake, whiteworm
Country	Various
Region	Northern Europe

Lindworm (cognate with Old Norse linnormr 'constrictor snake', Norwegian linnorm 'dragon', Swedish lindorm, Danish lindorm 'serpent', German Lindwurm 'dragon'), in British heraldry, is a technical term for a wingless bipedal dragon, often with a venomous bite. In Norwegian heraldry a lindorm is the same as the wyvern in British heraldry. The most famous lindworm is Jörmungandr.

In modern Scandinavian languages, the cognate lindorm can refer to any 'serpent' or monstrous snake, but in Norwegian heraldry, it is also a technical term for a 'sea-serpent' (sjøorm), although it may also stand for a 'lindworm' in British heraldry.

Generally, the word lindworm stood for the Latin word draco (whence Norse dreki), and thus could refer to any draconic creature, from a real-life constrictor snake to a legendary dragon. In European mythology and folklore, creatures identified as a "lindworm" may be winged or wingless, and quadrupedal, bipedal or limbless. However, late persistent tradition designates the lindworm as having no limbs, or just front claws (so that it must slither) in contrast to wyverns that have only hind-quarters (and possible claws on the end of the wings), and in contrast to dragons which have four legs and may be either winged or wingless.

In Norse Mythology, the Midgard Serpent is the most prominent of lindworms. In Grímnismál, Odin tells of several lindworms gnawing on Yggdrasil from below, "more than a unlearned fool would know". Odin names these lindworms (using the word "ormr" meaning snake and serpent) as Níðhöggr, Grábakr, Grafvölluðr (meaning he who digs deep beneath), Ofnir, Svafnir, Grafvitni (grave-wolf) and his sons Góinn and Móinn. Grafvitni is used as a kenning for "serpent" in Kraukamál.