Brewer's: Heimdall

(2 syl.). In Scandinavian mythology, son of the nine virgins; all sisters. He is called the god with the golden tooth or with golden teeth. Heimdall was not an Asa (q.v.), but a Van (q.v.), who lived in the celestial fort Himinsbiorg under the farther extremity of the bridge Bifrost (q.v.), and kept the keys of heaven. He is the watchman or sentinel of Asgard (q.v.), sleeps less than a bird, sees even in sleep, can hear the grass grow, and even the wool on a lamb's back. Heimdall, at the end of the world, will wake the gods with his trumpet, when the sons of Muspell will go against them, with Loki, the wolf Fenrir, and the great serpent Jormungand.

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