Raido


*Raidō "ride, journey" is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the r- rune of the Elder Futhark. The name is attested for the same rune in all three rune poems, Old Norwegian Ræið Icelandic Reið, Anglo-Saxon Rad, as well as for the corresponding letter of the Gothic alphabet ? r, called raida. The shape of the rune may be directly derived from Latin R.
Rune Poem:English Translation:

Old Norwegian

Ræið kveða rossom væsta;

Reginn sló sværðet bæzta.


Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;

Reginn forged the finest sword.

Old Icelandic

Reið er sitjandi sæla

ok snúðig ferð

ok jórs erfiði.

iter ræsir.


Riding is of sitting a blessing

and swift journey

and horses toiling

Anglo-Saxon

Rad byþ on recyde rinca gehƿylcum

sefte ond sƿiþhƿæt, ðamðe sitteþ on ufan

meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas.


Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors

and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads

on the back of a stout horse.