The name of the river Świder in Mazovia has been etymologically explained as meaning “water” or “to shine”. These are supposed to have come from a prot-Slavic root świd which goes back to an Indo-European root. Indeed świt also means dawn and there is, as we know, lots of shining when the Sun rises.
There is also the explanation which states that the river Świder’s name comes from the turning or meandering motion of the river or from the river eddies (świdry).
Curiously, świder also means (in Polish) a drill and świdrować means (in Polish) to drill a hole.
The name świder appears in various town names in Poland. It should then come as a surprise that Svidr is also the (Swedish) name for Odin (to be fair, Odin has many names!). In the Prose Edda we learn that the name of Sweden (likely) is Svithjod which is (supposedly) a compound name made of Svidr (Odin) and thjod (people).
More mysteries.
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