Valkyrie

[ val-keer-ee, -kahy-ree, vahl-, val-kuh-ree ]
/ vælˈkɪər i, -ˈkaɪ ri, vɑl-, ˈvæl kə ri /

noun Scandinavian Mythology.

any of the beautiful maidens attendant upon Odin who bring the souls of slain warriors chosen by Odin or Tyr to Valhalla and there wait upon them.
Also Walkyrie.

Origin of Valkyrie

< Old Norse valkyrja chooser of the slain (cognate with Old English wælcyrie witch), equivalent to val(r) the slain in battle, slaughter (cognate with Old English wæl) + kyrja chooser (cognate with Old English cyrie); akin to choose

OTHER WORDS FROM Valkyrie

Val·kyr·i·an, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for valkyrie

British Dictionary definitions for valkyrie

Valkyrie

Walkyrie Valkyr (ˈvælkɪə)

/ (vælˈkɪərɪ, ˈvælkɪərɪ) /

noun

Norse myth any of the beautiful maidens who serve Odin and ride over battlefields to claim the dead heroes and take them to Valhalla

Derived forms of Valkyrie

Valkyrian, adjective

Word Origin for Valkyrie

C18: from Old Norse Valkyrja, from valr slain warriors + köri to choose