The ''k''-

rune Runes are the letters in a set of related alphabets, known as runic rows, runic alphabets or futharks (also, see '' futhark'' vs ''runic alphabet''), native to the Germanic peoples. Runes were primarily used to represent a sound value (a ...

(Younger Futhark , Anglo-Saxon futhorc ) is called Kaun in both the Norwegian and Icelandic

rune poem Rune poems are poems that list the letters of runic alphabets while providing an explanatory poetic stanza for each letter. Four different poems from before the mid-20th century have been preserved: the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem, the Norwegian Rune ...

s, meaning "

ulcer An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughin ...

". The reconstructed

Proto-Germanic Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the linguistic reconstruction, reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic languages, Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. Proto-Germanic eventually developed from ...

name is *Kauną. It is also known as Kenaz ("torch"), based on its Anglo-Saxon name. The Elder Futhark shape is likely directly based on Old Italic ''c'' (, 𐌂) and on Latin C. The Younger Futhark and Anglo-Saxon Futhorc shapes have parallels in Old Italic shapes of ''k'' (, 𐌊) and Latin K (compare the

Negau helmet The Negau helmets are 26 bronze helmets (23 of which are preserved) dating to –350 BC, found in 1812 in a cache in Ženjak, near Negau, Duchy of Styria (now Negova, Slovenia). The helmets are of typical Etruscan civilization, Etruscan 'vetulon ...

inscription). The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌺 ''k'', called ''kusma''. The shape of the Younger Futhark ''kaun'' rune () is identical to that of the "bookhand" s rune in the

Anglo-Saxon futhorc Anglo-Saxon runes or Anglo-Frisian runes are runes that were used by the Anglo-Saxons and Medieval Frisians (collectively called Anglo-Frisians) as an alphabet in their native writing system, recording both Old English and Old Frisian (, ᚱ� ...

. The rune also occurs in some continental runic inscriptions. It has been suggested that in these instances, it represents the ''ch'' /χ/ sound resulting from the Old High German sound shift (e.g. ''elch'' in Nordendorf II). Tineke Looijenga, ''Texts & contexts of the oldest Runic inscriptions'', BRILL, 2003, , p. 129.

References

Runes {{writingsystem-stub