1771, by some identified with the name of the old woman in the O.N. poem
"Rigsþul," by others derived from O.N.
oðr "spirit, mind, passion, song, poetry" (cognate with O.Ir.
faith "poet," L.
vates "seer, soothsayer;" see
wood (adj.)). It is the name given to two Icelandic books, the first a miscellany of poetry, mythology, and grammar by Snorri Sturluson (d.1241), since 1642 called the
Younger or
Prose Edda; and a c.1200 collection of ancient Gmc. poetry and religious tales, called the
Elder or
Poetic Edda.
[ed-uh] 
ə