Kaunan

Kaun redirects here. It can also refer to the small town of Gaeun, South Korea, or a Bollywood movie, Kaun (film).''

The k-rune ᚲ (Younger Futhark ᚴ, Anglo-Saxon Futhorc ᚳ) is called Kaun in both the Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems, meaning "ulcer". The reconstructed Proto-Germanic name is Kaunan. It is also occasionally known as Kenaz (torch).

The Elder Futhark shape is likely directly based on Old Italic c 𐌂. The Younger Futhark / Futhorc shapes have parallels in Old Italic shapes of k 𐌊 (compare the Negau helmet inscription).

Norwegian:

ᚴ Kaun er barna bǫlvan;

bǫl gørver nán fǫlvan.

Ulcer is fatal to children;

death makes a corpse pale.

Icelandic (glossed as Latin flagella "whip"):

ᚴ Kaun er barna böl

ok bardaga [för]

ok holdfúa hús.

flagella konungr.

Disease fatal to children

and painful spot

and abode of mortification.

In scenarios that assume a system of divination surrounding the Old Futhark, this is clearly seen as one of the less auspicious runes.

The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌺 k, called kusma.

The Anglo-Saxon rune poem gives a name cen "torch", probably because the original name was no longer understood:

ᚳ Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre

blac ond beorhtlic, byrneþ oftust

ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ.

The torch is known to every living man

by its pale, bright flame; it always burns

where princes sit within.

Runes
Elder Fuþark: ᚠ f | ᚢ u | ᚦ þ | ᚨ a | ᚱ r | ᚲ k | ᚷ g | ᚹ w | ᚺ h | ᚾ n | ᛁ i | ᛃ j |ᛇ ï | ᛈ p | ᛉ z | ᛊ s |ᛏ t | ᛒ b | ᛖ e | ᛗ m | ᛚ l | ᛜ ŋ | ᛞ d | ᛟ o
Futhorc | Younger Futhark | Rune poems | Runestones | Runology

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