futhark

[ foo-thahrk ]

noun

1. the runic alphabet.

futhark

/ ˈfuːθɑːk; ˈfuːθɔːk /

noun

1. a phonetic alphabet consisting of runes

Word History and Origins

Origin of futhark¹

1850–55; so called from first six letters of Old English and Scand runic alphabet: f, u, th, a (or o ), r, k (modeled on alphabet )

Word History and Origins

Origin of futhark¹

C19: from the first six letters: f, u, th, a, r, k ; compare alphabet

Example Sentences

Runes carved on the stone belong to a runic alphabet known as the “Elder Futhark,” a variant out of use long before the Viking voyages to North America, a fact apparently unknown to the person who carved them in Oklahoma.

From Slate

However, it seems that the second runic character is a short-twig “A” from the “Younger Futhark.”

From Slate

Inscribed on the bone are six of the last eight runes from a 24-letter alphabet known as Old Futhark, the oldest runic alphabet used by Germanic tribes during the first half of the first millennium.

From New York Times

“Just writing out the ‘futhark,’ all sixteen Viking runes in order like an alphabet, was a good-luck charm.”

From Washington Post

Pic by English Heritage This week's events within Lindisfarne's "ancient monastery's halls" include Uruz, a replica Viking longship, complete with carved wooden figurehead, which arrived on Monday and will be displayed all week. , named after the second character of the futhark, or runic alphabet, is 30 foot long and would have held a reasonable-sized raiding party.

From The Guardian