svanni

Possibly a diminutive from svanr (“swan”), meaning “little swan”. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

svanni m (genitive svanna)

1. (poetic, heiti) lady, woman

   sá hvítjarpr svanni

   the light-brown-haired lady

   • 1093–1103, King Magnús barefoot Óláfsson, loose verse 4

     […] Þungan berk af þingi
     þann harm, es skalk svanna
     — skreytask menn á móti —
     minn aldrigi finna.

     Heavy I carry away from the assembly, the sorrow that I shall never — men adorn themselves at the meeting — find my lady.

Although this word does refer to a woman, it is still grammatically masculine.