: a dragon in Norse mythology that guards the Nibelungs' gold hoard until slain by Sigurd

Examples of Fafnir in a Sentence

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Norse mythology reinforced this tradition through the story of Fafnir, a dwarf transformed into a dragon by his overwhelming greed for a cursed hoard of gold. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Old Norse Fāfnir

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Fafnir was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Fafnir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Fafnir. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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