Brewer's: Niflheim

(2 syl., mist-home). The region of endless cold and everlasting night, ruled over by Hela. It consists of nine worlds, to which are consigned those who die of disease or old age. This region existed “from the beginning” in the North, and in the middle thereof was the well Hvergelmeer, from which flowed twelve rivers. (Old Norse, nifl, mist; and heim, home.) In the South was the world called Muspelheim (q.v.).

(Scandinavian mythology.) (See Hvergelmer Manheim.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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