Kenning

Etymology

From Old Norse "kenning" (a description, an expression), related to "kenna" (to know, perceive, name). Kennings are a defining feature of Old Norse and Old English verse such as Beowulf.

noun · /KEN-ing/
A compressed, metaphorical compound that stands in for a plain noun.
What it names
The vivid old poetic trick of "whale-road" for the sea or "ring-giver" for a king — a handle for imagery packed tight into a two-word compound.
Example
The poet called the sun the "sky-candle," a kenning that lights the whole line.
Related idea
A kenning is a specialized, formulaic cousin of the metaphor — fixed, compact, and traditional, rather than freshly invented for the moment.