Origin: < Old Norse Urthr, cognate with Old English wyrd (see weird), derivative of the Germanic root of Old Norse vertha to become, German werden;see worth2
1770, from O.N. norn (pl. nornir), one of the female fates of Scand. mythology, related to Swed. dial. norna "to warn, to communicate secretly," perhaps ult. imitative of low murmuring (cf. M.H.G. narren "to growl, snarl").