Valkyrie

[ val-keer-ee, -kahy-ree, vahl-, val-kuh-ree ]

noun

, Scandinavian Mythology.

1. 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.

Valkyrie

/ ˈvælkɪə; vælˈkɪərɪ; ˈvælkɪərɪ /

noun

1. 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

• Valˈkyrian, adjective

Other Words From

• Val·kyri·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Valkyrie¹

< 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Valkyrie¹

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

Example Sentences

To build this drone jet, the Air Force Research Lab awarded a contract worth almost $18 million to Kratos, maker of aerial target drones as well as the Valkyrie and Mako combat drones.

From Popular-Science

With names such as Cowboy Coffee, Battle Axe, Dust Bunny, Valhalla and Valkyrie, the trails are a mix of technical and more flowing free rides.

From Washington Post

He initially included a scene showing a woman walking out of Valkyrie’s bedroom.

From Time

In a flashback scene Valkyrie loses one of her fellow female warriors during a fight with the villain Hela, and the dialogue implies that the fallen soldier may have been a love interest.

From Time

Astute readers will have noticed that Valkyrie didn’t appear in a Marvel movie until 2017, and even then that character’s queerness was implied not stated.

From Time

Bryan is very interested in World War II, which was a very big part of X-Men, Valkyrie, and Apt Pupil.

From The Daily Beast

But even before Valkyrie was released, Cruise had been through a sort of career intervention.

From The Daily Beast

Even though you go into Valkyrie knowing how it will end, the details of history are still plenty engaging.

From The Daily Beast

But even though you go into Valkyrie knowing how it will end, the details of history are still plenty engaging.

From The Daily Beast

The breeze steadied down during the dark hours, and the 'Valkyrie' had a day just to her liking.

From Project Gutenberg

Spectators were treated to a magnificent light-weather match between the 'Valkyrie' and 'Britannia.'

From Project Gutenberg

Owing to the flagboat drifting, they went round Lepe buoy, and having to nip to fetch, 'Valkyrie' gained a trifle.

From Project Gutenberg

Heavy squalls came off the Island, and 'Satanita' had lee decks full, 'Valkyrie' by comparison standing up manfully.

From Project Gutenberg

All had a single reef in mainsails, and 'Valkyrie's' topmast was struck, the rest keeping theirs on end.

From Project Gutenberg