[ ru:n ]
■ noun
1》 a letter of an ancient Germanic alphabet, related to the Roman alphabet, used especially in Scandinavia.
↘a mysterious symbol, especially in a spell or incantation.
2》 an ancient Scandinavian poem or part of one.
Derivatives
runic adjective
Origin
OE rūn 'a secret, mystery'; reintroduced in the late 17th cent. under the influence of ON rúnir , rúnar 'magic signs, hidden lore'.