lyf-steinn

m., also spelt lif-steinn, Korm. 80, 116, Fas. iii. 244, 307:—a healing stone, stone of virtue (cp. mod. Icel. náttúru-steinn); such stones are recorded as attached to the hilts of ancient swords to rub and heal the wounds with, e. g. the sword Skofnung; wounds made by this sword could only be healed by the stone grooved in its hilt, Ld. 250, 252, Korm. 80, cp. Þórð. (1860) 102; í eptra hjalti sverðsins vóru læstir lifsteinar, þeir er eitr ok sviða drógu ór sárum ef í vóru skafnir, Fas. iii. 244, 307; Bersi hafði lifstein á hálsi, Korm. 116, where the stone was to save one from being drowned.