# Talk:Stoor worm

Under Stoor worm#Etymology, the Orkney dialect stoor is cognate with Old Norse stórr and means "big". Lexical references back this clearly:

Edmondston (1866) An Etymological Glossary of the Shetland & Orkney Dialect pp. 119, 163.
Scottish National Dictionary (online search engine) under Sture
However, this etymology was knee-jerk purged by Sagaciousphil and Eric Corbett in WP:IDONTLIKEIT fashion (Not an improvement" and "removed yet more poorly written crap", promoting their own pet etymologies, one soley website-sourced, another reliant on their judgment call (as to which denotation should apply to this wyrm (dragon)).
My experience with the ongoing Talk:Kelpie has been that the duo will basically stonewall for ever, so I am going to flip the table.  Bring me to my attention that this non-neutrality problem has been rectified properly. In the meanwhile, I am leaving a standing "No" vote for any upgrade of this to GA or FA status.--Kiyoweap (talk) 12:56, 15 August 2014 (UTC)

As you please, but surely even you ought to realise that GAN isn't a vote. And in fact neither is FAC in reality. But of course you wouldn't know that, as you've never been near either of those processes with you poorly written crap.  Eric Corbett 14:11, 15 August 2014 (UTC)
ad hominem much? Piboy51 (talk) 13:27, 20 August 2014 (UTC)
Variant eytomologies may exist and though sources from books seem more reliable than websites, the material in the Scottish National Dictionary may still be incorrect. More research may be needed. Slightnostalgia (talk) 07:27, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

Ha, the threat of spoiling the GA does work after all. Well, after denigrating my edits as "not improvement", you sneakily reinstate my stórr etymology under your own signature (in your edit "sentence by painful sentence"). Not only is this an abysmally WP:OWN behavior, it is such a minimal concession, maybe just to give the semblance that all I raise here is the stórr issue, and now it's been resolved.
If this was working like a real WP:BRD, I would have been alerted when you made the small concession, and would have reparteed then. But here is where toss the ball back into your court now: the Etymology section is still a chaotic mess: mix of only-website citable theory, the sturre bit you got on a tip from a wiki-user, and some bizarre incapability of straight-out mentioning Scottish National Dictionary where your cited definition occurs, and instead having to call it a post-1700 extension to DOST at the DSL site.--Kiyoweap (talk) 09:25, 23 October 2014 (UTC)

This is of course OR on my part, but to me (no great classicist) there seems an obvious resemblance between this myth and that of Perseus and Andromeda, from which it might therefore have been derived. I'd be surprised if nothing scholarly has been published examining this. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 212.95.237.92 (talk) 13:00, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

It also has certain similarities to stories such as St George's slaying of the dragon. Perhaps all myths have their origins deep in our shared human psyche, rather than being invented once and then simply repeated.  Eric Corbett 13:19, 20 August 2014 (UTC)
Thanks, yes, I believe there was some comparison done by Hartland - hopefully, we'll be able to re-start further developing this article a little bit more over the next few days. SagaciousPhil - Chat 13:35, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

This review is transcluded from Talk:Stoor worm/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Reviewer: Montanabw (talk · contribs) 06:05, 21 October 2014 (UTC)

I will review this article and will be back with my template and basic comments soon.  Montanabw(talk) 06:05, 21 October 2014 (UTC)

Some preliminary comments,  feel free to explain, address or dispute as you see fit. Montanabw(talk) 03:47, 23 October 2014 (UTC)

I find the lead/lede a bit short for the complexity of the article; perhaps expand the folk beliefs a little more and consider slight expansions of the first and third paragraphs.  Not a lot more to do, but as it sits, I'm not drawn into the article as much as I'd expect with an article about an evil sea serpent!
The Douglas source is cited inconsistently. In FN 1, you are actually citing to Trial Dennison's essay, but the citation form used doesn't really work (we can blame the template, perhaps). FN 16 cites to the tale itself, so perhaps you could either add " "Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm" there and clarify that FN 1 is actually titled "Notes to Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm" with a different author (Dennison) or chop the essay from fn 1 and just have say Doublas 299.  Whichever works, but as it's the same book, consistency would be helpful.  I have no opinion as to which citation format you choose, but right now the two are a bit muddled.
Also, the bibliographic citation to Douglas looks odd.  As you cite to the Dennison piece on page 299 and the story itself on page 68, IMHO, I think the citation to " "Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm"" should be removed from the bibliography and that title kept only in Fn 16.  Also, James Torrance is the illustrator of the work, as far as I can tell from the Hathi link, and so there really is no need to add his name in the citation, and the way it's sandwiched between the title of the story and the title of the work is not proper formatting - the template appears to be the problem. If you think it critical to include both Torrance and the fairy tale title in the biblio, then to put Torrance after Douglas and not in the odd spot it's in now, maybe "first1" "last1" "first2 and "last2" are the parameters that will make it look correct.  Whatever works.
I guess last but not least, the article says Douglas reprinted Dennison's telling of the tale, so now I'm totally confused. Can you straighten this out for me here?  I'm basically just looking for the sources and the article to all be a bit more clear and play more cooperatively with each other.
As for 2, 3, 4, these have been dealt with AFAIC. It uses {{citation}} and satisfies MOS already, and GAood enough. I made a good faith edit on the citation formats on these, the reviewer reverted it saying it wasn't executed with expert prowess. I'm not going to fix it and fix it ad nauseum till teacher finally approves. If the reviewer is going to revert it and complaining about it, he/she could have spend the 5 minutes instead on fixing it on the spot. Or don't. Remember, I'm not the one trying to promote this article in its current state.--Kiyoweap (talk) 06:39, 25 October 2014 (UTC)
Just my opinion, but unless these sorts of articles all have a standard template or layout, I think the "Textual Sources" section should be last, not first.  I'd also put the Origins and Etymology sections next to each other, not separated by the Folk Beliefs section - basically, the tales themselves are the fun part of the article, the academic analyses are the "wonk" parts, and hence I'd keep them grouped accordingly.
Textual sources has now been moved but the Etymology and Origins sections are positioned as we have always done for this series of articles. 'Etymology' sections do generally appear early on with the use of italics (see for instance, Australia, Antarctica, Shapinsay or Vampire, all FAs). SagaciousPhil - Chat
FN 2 labeled "Editor" also isn't working for me - it's another Triall Dennison work, his name is not "Editor," so I'd suggest the bibliographic entry simply be listed with the other two (hnnce vol 5, issues 18, 19, and 20 are all together).  For the footnotes themselves, given you have two 1891 works in there, you may have to come up with some sort of kludge to make the template behave, perhaps "Dennison-2" or something.  Again, whatever works.
I think that direct quotations are a bit overusedhere, perhaps as a way to avoid copyvio problems, which is good, but I'd suggest you do a search and destroy on  about half of them.  One example is Walter Traill Dennison, who as a boy had "heard many versions of this tale related by Orkney peasants", which could be rephrased to not need the quotation.  Another clunky bit is  "Herakle's deliverance of Hesione" as a direct quote in the lede; I'd rephrase to avoid the need for that quote there, but perhaps keep it where it occurs later.  I don't think all quotes have to go, just the ones that can most easily be rephrased.
I am accustomed to seeing non-English words in italics, but not words like "stoor worm." (which could, optionally, be placed in quotes if it needs to be highlighted.  JMO.
See note above under Point 5. SagaciousPhil - Chat
You note Mitgard serpent in the lede, but not in the text, where you only note the name world serpent.  (Over here in the US, we hear "Mitgard serpent" more often than "world serpent' so I do favor using both.)
Any way an image guru can brighten up that lead image a bit?  I can barely see the creature, it's quite dark. Not a deal-killer, just a side thought.
The artwork is dark but reproduced correctly; for instance see Las Meninas, a featured article with a very dark lead image and that is a featured picture as well; it’s not generally considered wise to adjust the lighting of artwork.
Spelt is a grain. (grin) I know this article is in UK English and that's groovy, but if "spelled" is also correct on your side of the pond, it sounds less archaic to use it.
Also a style issue,  but I feel that some of the sentences go into run-on sentence land. While Yanks like me are accused of overuse of the comma, here it may be going a bit too far in the other direction.  Also there are spots where a semicolon could be a period and the flow would probably be better.
As you do a run-through for the above, maybe look at smoothing things out a bit more overall; I don't think it is helpful to point to 35,000,000 nitpicky things, given your experience, but the article still has that "written by a committee" look about it.
One example:  "the king relinquishes his kingdom to Assipattle, who marries Princess Gem-de-lovely is given Odin's sword."  Who is given Odin's sword??
All for now, may add a bit more as I go.  Montanabw(talk) 03:47, 23 October 2014 (UTC)  Feel free to answer below or inline, whichever you prefer


### Note
Lead if vastly improved, thank you!
I did a revert of what appears to be Kiyoweap changing links to a nearly indecipherable (to me) original text that does not seem to clarify what was being sourced.  It appears you have a problem with a single disgruntled user here, who has failed to establish consensus on at least two other articles, and I find his/her dismissive attitude toward the GA process itself problematic, so let us let that go and focus on content henceforth.
Assorted text improvements help the flow.
You folks have not yet fixed the "Editor" citation in FN 38 and the bibliography.  Some of the other citation issues still need a tweak or two. I presume you will get to it?
One thing that Kiyoweap's edits did raise for me is that, where possible, it would be good if you can use sources where a subscription is NOT required.  Sources such as Hathi Trust and the one Kiyoweap found, the Internet archive  DO have full access.  Even though the "audio" source has a full text (and a readable one, no less) if the Internet Archive version contains the same material, I would have no objection to having two footnotes where relevant, the sourcing of the audio version is not noted, so though far more accessible, perhaps a very precise link with page numbers and proper formatting might be useful.
All for now.  Montanabw(talk) 23:25, 28 October 2014 (UTC)

As for #2 Montanabw complaining that my url to the HathiTrust page description link was "indecipherable (to me)", I believe this to mean being unable to spot the "Full View" link on it. So replacement with the latter url solved this problem, and insta-reverting the solution is uncalled for.
As per #5 the "audio" scripts refs should be undergoing replacement with "Dennison's long version" refs.
On #5 on Internet archive links I provided, I see no credible reason forthcoming for Sagaciousphil reverting again on this, and all it does impede other editors from fact-checking with the ease of a click away.--Kiyoweap (talk) 11:37, 29 October 2014 (UTC)
The Hathi Trust link is unavailable to those outside the United States. "This item is not available online ( Limited - search only) due to copyright restrictions" is what we see elsewhere.  Eric Corbett 16:25, 29 October 2014 (UTC)
First off, Kiyoweap, let the others do the citation formatting, you aren't doing it properly... (for one thing, "Editor" is not the name of the author of a work!) My suggestion is to link to BOTH sources.  I will also note that the WP guidelines for online books generally suggest linking where possible to the specific page in a footnote, and I generally advise linking to a full text version in a source if the book itself has multiple page references.  I would advise that people work together here and not insist on only "one right version" - in some cases it is acceptable for there to be two or more footnotes to back up certain things. Where there are online sources, the question of international copyright is a legitimate concern and where possible, links that allow people in both the US and the UK to verify information are helpful. Be careful with page views and snippet views, though, best to check them against an actual hardcopy of there is not a full text version available online. Montanabw(talk) 16:39, 29 October 2014 (UTC)
I will acknowledge the current fix on "Editor" issue is better than listing Editor among the authors. That said, I am not deserving to be singled out for repeated browbeating from Montanabw about my citation formatting, given that Eric/Sagacious are hardly error-free either, and Montanabw herself demonstrating blunderous lapses that deviate from MOS on citation. When you absorbed the Editor's note into Traill Dennison's 1891 article, you needed to do something like change to "issue=19–20", which would render as "5 (19–20)". Otherwise, add another line of bibliography with issue 20, and the proper way to list two citation by the author for the same year is 1891a and 1891b, as per WP:HARV#Inline citation in the body of the article, not using "Dennison-2" as Montanabw suggests. --Kiyoweap (talk) 09:51, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
Kiyoweap, I don't think I actually was actively editing anything, just a couple of reverts so I could see what was going on; I certainly have no intent of making "blunderous lapses," or asking for a specific formatting layout, only that whatever is selected be consistent.  1891a and b works fine, yes.  You are not being "singled out for repeated browbeating" by me; you are being told by multiple people not to edit against consensus.  It appears that some of the points you have raised are being considered by the others.  That said, I would urge you to ASK for consensus on things you want to see raised.  The Hathi Trust materials with the longer version of the story may be a legitimate point, but the problem is that when I looked at what you were citing, the content didn't really provide verification to what was being said in the article; also, citations to the same multi-page selection is not as good as citing to specific pages, though formatting the citations is more complex.  Montanabw(talk) 19:33, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
I believe I have now fixed the citations; however, Kiyoweap appears to have resumed disruptive behaviour this morning making several edits, again introducing cite errors and moving sections around without prior discussion, so I have reverted these. SagaciousPhil - Chat 12:40, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
And has now started adding yet more quotes to the article despite being asked by the reviewer, Montanabw, not to do so. SagaciousPhil - Chat 12:51, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
My comment was that quotes were overdone in the initial review version, re-adding them will not help.  Montanabw(talk) 19:33, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
As for problems with Stoor worm#Etymology, tagging the section would be overkill beyond my edits themselves, edit summaries, and further annotation with #Etymology, simply below speaking for themselves. Even without tags, the issues are plain right in front of anyone's face, and if Montanabw was genuine about making assessment on them (in reasonably timely manner) she would have got to them, at least on some level, beyond "you are editing against consensus". As I have constantly tried to point out, Wiki consensus is based on persuasion by argument, not counting yea nay votes by rote.
Suffice it to say, I have discovered since a couple of days ago that Montanabw is multitasking several reviews for quick turnout in this GA Cup thing, which explains to me why this breezing over the NPOV and RS sourcing assessment on her part.--Kiyoweap (talk) 14:48, 6 November 2014 (UTC)

For what it's worth, I happen to have three active GAN reviews going, one nearly done, this one, and one barely started.  I am far from a leader in the GA cup; I had one completed review last round. I most certainly would pick a simpler review than this one if I were merely chasing bling. Your bad faith, Kiyoweap, is getting to the point where you are becoming disruptive to the project.   I hope you choose to behave better and assume good faith. Montanabw(talk) 01:42, 7 November 2014 (UTC)
Consensus has been achieved and to continue to argue until you get what you want is disruptive, something I believe Drmies has already pointed out. SagaciousPhil - Chat 15:09, 6 November 2014 (UTC)
Right. Plus, I see no reason to doubt Montanabw's good faith and work ethic. Drmies (talk) 15:20, 6 November 2014 (UTC)
Update:  @Sagaciousphil: and all others:  I have reviewed some of the recommended changes that Kiyoweap suggested in his sandbox, User:Kiyoweap/Stoor worm.  Here are my comments.  Montanabw(talk) 01:42, 7 November 2014 (UTC)
Most of the added verbiage is either not needed or is material that isn't suitable to be incorporated into the article for reason I suggest below:
A list section of "characters" is not needed, as they are discussed in the article text.  That said, I think that the bit in Dennisons' notes (p. 300) about how Assipattle, in all tales, is always the youngest son, the one who was not thought to amount to nothing, could be noted in this article.  I'd suggest throwing it into the paragraph narrative about Assipattle where you merely say "Assipattle, the youngest son of a local farmer..."  While Kiyoweap's version is rather awkward, the bit about how the name suggests groveling in the ashes or how he's the one who does all the dirty work is worth adding; perhaps a sentence or so
 Deferred to to post GA? The point is, it is not true that all the 'characters' have been "discussed in the article text": the horse's name Teetgong is not in there, and the sword name I had inserted but were reverted. I don't insist this should be done as a separate section though, and it can be worked into the article, but I think that would entail recharacterizing the sections from /*Attributes*/ (of serpent) → /*Synopsis*/ (of the tale). However this is goes to widening the Talk:Stoor worm#Scope, so, if you want to defer handling the problem to post-GA that's okay, provided it is understood it is fair and square to reintroduced these later in time.
 Note:Also minor point: right now, the etymology for Assipattle occurs in explanatory note [a] isn't positioned anywhere near Assipattle, so this and the "youngest son" info could be expanded in the text when the hero is mentioned, which is what I tried to do in one edit.
The definition of "Mester" in the etymology section of the current article is better sourced and more acurate, in my view.  I read page 300 of Traill Dennisons' notes in the Hathi Trust version of the book. Kiyoweap's proposal to say "Mester Stoorworm "the greatest of the great sea-serpents" is not etymology or word origin of the word "mester"; Dennison is talking about a description of the character; two different things.
 Disagree I have to say you are clueless, and Dennison clearly indicates "mester" means "greatest". Read on, and Dennison says: "Mester, that is master... always means superior -- it may be in strength, etc." It is elementary level exercise even for me to see "muckle, mester stoorworm" probably corresponds to Old Norse mikill mestr stórr ormr. Look up of mestr yields "superlative form of mickle", which is pretty much exactly what Dennison says.
 Adress issue Footnotes currently [1][2] are private websites. How can you say these WP:SPS are "better sourced" over Dennison. This reviewer is winging it on this as well. Also, did you look at the second website to notice it doesn't mention stoor worm or not?--— Preceding unsigned comment added by Kiyoweap (talk • contribs) 13:40, 7 November 2014  (UTC)
Generally text notation of authors in the reference are not needed; Dennison is major, the rest, not so much.
Most of the extra quotes Kiyoweap wants to add are probably superflous. that said, the bit about "The tongue reached out and its forked end "used as a pair of tongs"[11] seized its victims." is kind of colorful, the book itself reads "His terrible tongue was forked.  And the prongs of the fork he used as a pair of tongs to seize his prey."  (Douglas p. 68)  I see no harm in adding something about that, it's a rather unique monster in that respect.
I think just a little more characterization as noted above should do the trick.  Bring it a little more alive, do your final cleanup, and we'll be done here.  Montanabw(talk) 01:42, 7 November 2014 (UTC)

I will start off with apologizing to user:Montanabw for my skepticism in getting around to address the substantive issues, though so far I'm still seeing just superficial gut instinct response, such as "better.. in my view". But I will respond inline above.
I will add the general comment that if the points on the initial and second sweep of comments are closed, the reviewer and/or the candidates should have been using strikout and/or {{done}} {{close}} etc. to spare the readers a lot of unfruitful reading. --Kiyoweap (talk) 13:40, 7 November 2014 (UTC)
I have warned Kiyoweap that further disruption and personal attacks (such as the above "clueless") will lead to a block. Drmies (talk) 15:27, 7 November 2014 (UTC)
Thank you.  FWIW, Dennison is not a linguist, he is an expert on mythology, "greatest sea serpent" is a description of the story, not etymology, hence the etymology section is properly sourced. Montanabw(talk) 01:35, 8 November 2014 (UTC)
I still maintain that Dennison's notes is essentially glossary, so the note on Mester Stoor Worm is etymology. But adimittedly his etymology has a bit of flourish beyond dictionary definition. I would be loth to cast it aside, but I suppose it is a viable stance to stick with strictly dictionary (Scottish National Dictionary) definition. However, if that is your editorial policy, in order to be consistent, you would have to throw out non-linguist Westwood's etymology (phrase sourced as [7]) as well. The explanatory notes in [a] is Westwood also, subject to replacement with SND entry assiepattle. Also source [6] which gives "Yorkshire dialect" defiinition is at least better served by SND's maister (var. mester).
I am still convinced the other etymology Eric added is WP:Original Research. But I will agree to take that up with at some later juncture with the WP:DRN boards, soliciting opinions from Wikipedia:WikiProject Norse history and culture and other forums, in a way that doesn't overtax this reviewer's involvement.--Kiyoweap (talk) 19:14, 8 November 2014 (UTC)
The technical disputes you raise (scholarly differences of opinion) are not really part of the scope of GAN, and I have noticed that you raised similar issues at Talk:Kelpie#Etymology, which is now a featured article.  I have to say that neither my review of the sources cited nor an analysis of your arguments has changed my mind on the issue.  You can, indeed seek other opinions.  Montanabw(talk) 06:15, 9 November 2014 (UTC)
With some recent changes and incorporation of  a bit more detail, fixing of footnote formatting and after reviewing alternative proposals, and cited source material, I am passing this article.  Montanabw(talk) 08:29, 9 November 2014 (UTC)

Various, regarding Traill Dennison's long version.

I think Marwick says the long version appeared in Orcadian Sketch Book and reprinted in Douglas's edition of the Scottish Fairy and Folk-Tales (ca. 1893). I may not be quite accurate on this, since I am catching Marwick only in snippets. Douglas says his is from MS., and Hartland says the manuscript text and has never been printed, so that is a contradiction. Verification needed?
Orcadian Sketch Book is a rare book, not in many libraries, nor online as far as I can tell. So Douglas's SFFT reprints becomes the most accessible resource for this.
Only some editions of Douglas have the Stoor Worm, there used to be a copy on Google I think but no longer, and that's why I used the Hathi Trust link. But the full view may only be available to US residents.
It is in consideration of this restricted availability that I bothered to type out the beginning of the long version text, "The goodman of Leegarth was a well-to-do udaler.." A search using this string will lead, I believe, to only one other electronic copy @electricscotland.com.--Kiyoweap (talk) 11:27, 23 October 2014 (UTC)
Outside of the US, the Hathi Trust link only allows text search. Result gives page number with a piece of text (like Amazon's look inside feature).
For non-US folks, thre was also a Google Books snippet view link.
Added two external links. --Kiyoweap (talk) 09:19, 29 October 2014 (UTC) Added #5 and #6, Added {{info icon}}--Kiyoweap (talk) 20:11, 2 November 2014 (UTC)
}}


### Links to 1893? edition
Somehow I missed HathiTrust has copy of Douglas's 1893[?] edition (first edition), which may be preferred:

HathiTrust description page
Full View page (to use as {{citation}} url= value)
"Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm" p.58 to 72
"Notes .. by Mr. W. Traill Dennison" p.299 to 301

Arguably, it would be best to use Traill Dennison's long version of the folktale as the base text, against the short version and Marwick's. But Dennison's long is restricted to viewing by US residents at the HathiTrust link right now, so that presents a logistical issue. I would argue against quoting "folklorist Westwood", making it sound like she collected a version of her own when she's just second-hand paraphrasing. For example, Marwick has "The Stoor Worm's head was like a mountain and his eyes like round lochs." I don't see any merit to purposely breaking this up and replacing the first bit with Westwood's "like a great mountain," except as a deliberate ploy to avoid "extensive quoting" copyright issues. The other quirkily sourced quote comes from this audio transcript version, which I don't think takes much astuteness on the part of an armchair proofreader to notice, but I'll just go ahead fix these using the corresponding pages in Douglas's ed. --Kiyoweap (talk) 10:56, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

Here's the question: "Is the article about the stoor worm, or Assipattle the hero, or the folktale?"
The answer is, though it pretends to be about the monster only, the already is about the "dragon-slaying" type folktale to a large extent. The /*Origins*/ section is actually mostly a list of folk-tale motif parallels.
Given that it is about the folktale, I had inserted missing detail such as the horse Teetgong and the sword Snickersnapper. I tweaked the lede to include folktale, and added the section /*Other names and characters*/ under this edit, though reverted by Eric, no surprise there.
Now, the article is already set up as one also about the hero Assipattle by Sagacious, as anyone can verify, it redirects to Stoor worm. They have included one detail about Assipattle (meaning of his name in Orcadian), but awkwardly as an {{efn}} explanatory note ("[b]") on the heels of comments on the stoor worm.

	
Where should additional details from the folktale belong? Probabaly not Askeladden, and probably not a new [[Assiepattle and the Stoor worm]] article, because that would be WP:REDUNDANTFORKing. So the place for people to add other aspects of the tale would be this article. And as such, it should be allowed to develop the whole story synopsis, instead of some arbitrary hightlights, before being upgraded to GA status. --Kiyoweap (talk) 07:32, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

On Talk:Stoor worm/GA1 #9 raised by Montanabw, I am all for not using Jörmungandr even though that is the article title used in Wikipedia, and sticking to "Midgard Serpent," since the cited source, Ernest Marwick says "Miðgarðsormr or the World Serpent whose coils encircled the earth" and "In Orkney the World Serpent became the Stoor Worm."
In the Etymology section, the Jörmungandr kenning etymology, is intriguing but backed solely by personal website, hence WP:Unreliable or WP:UNDUE and should be deleted.
The wording of the part about "It is probably an Orkney variant of the Norse Jörmungandr, " needs careful treatment, I would reword as "Orkney's rendition of.." or "Orkney version of " to better reflect what Marwick says. The serpents share physical characteristics and venomous breath, but the stories in the Eddas aren't very similar.
Next, I am not enamored of the Fuseli painting being used here. This is almost a stock photo everyone recognizes of Thor fighting the Midgard serpent, seen in various popular mythology books like Cotterell's, and in fact, it is the exact same image as splashed at the top of the Jörmungandr page. So, at the very least, the caption should read something like "The stoor worm may have been inspired by the Midgard Serpent, as shown in this painting by Fuseli". I think you can dispense with alluding to Thor or Hymir story here, because, there's not much of a folklore motif parallel; none of the commentators submit that opinion that I can find. Thor is not swallowed by the serpent at Ragnarök, though Odin is devoured by the Fenriswolf.
And characterizing this as "Orcadian mythology" and "folk belief" is judgmental, prejudicial, etc., suggesting the islanders could be so credulous, so a choice of neutral terms like "folklore" would be more desirable. --Kiyoweap (talk) 11:24, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

Pinging all reviewers:  Due to the dispute between @Kiyoweap:, @Eric Corbett: and @Sagaciousphil:, I have asked Kiyoweap, at his/her talk page, that instead of editing the article right now, that he/she use a limited number of appropriate inline tags (i.e. {{dubious}}, {{citation needed}}, etc. to highlight areas where Kiyoweap has a legitimate dispute. However, I also asked him/her not to "tag bomb" the article.  Where Kiyoweap tags, please don't remove the tag; I will take a look at it and make the call if it's an actual problem. Montanabw(talk) 20:29, 30 October 2014 (UTC)

I reject this so-called solution proposed by this GA reviewer. Its all but a block against me for duration of her GA review, save for a "limited number" of inline tagging. Somehow with such hampered means, I am expected to fully articulate my side of the argument in the edit dispute. I hardly see this as fair or wise.
I have already made a number of BOLD edits to make my point, with detailed edit summaries. It should be enough for any capable editor to understand the dispute, though it might require some subject familiarity.
To assist you, in User:Kiyoweap/Stoor worm#Etymology I wrote up the more polished endproduct of the etymology paragraph as I would have it.
In addition, I will post below a more fuller explanation beyond edit summaries. If you still can't bring your self to the point of understanding the dispute and make cogently argued refutation beyond blanket rejection, I will have to conclude you fail as a dedicated enough GA reviewer comptent to  make neutrality and sourcing issues on this article.--Kiyoweap (talk) 22:54, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

I have come up with the following concise etymology, posted on the User:Kiyoweap/Stoor worm page. It reads as follows:

Stoorworm is literally "great sea serpent",[1] and Mester Stoorworm "the greatest of the great sea-serpents".[2] The adjective stoor or sture in Scots signifies "large"[2] (cognate with Old Norse stórr),[3][a] and mester means "superior" in strength and other attributes.[2] A worm is an archaic term for serpent (or dragon[4][5]), and more generally "any animal of serpent shape".[2]

Edit on Etymology:  section (+33)
/*Etymology*/ section lowered. But not lowering is fine with me.
When I placed the meaning of mester stoorworm as "greatest great serpent" in the lede. Can Sagacious explain exactly which part of this is and WP:OR, when Traill Dennison's notes says the meaning is "the greatest of the great sea-serpents"?
Edit on Reinstating mention of SND (+52)
Scottish National Dictionary (SND) is the dictionary where you find the definition for sture, stoor, and stoorworm. Can Sagacious explain how it is not irregular and misleading to use circumlocution, instead of outright calling it SND, to call it a sequel portion to DOST within the online DSL dictionary that lets you query both dicinaries ?
DOST's definition of sture in the sense of  "violent conflicts" is something Sagacious picked up on a 'tip from another wikiuser (talk:Ben MacDui#Olaf of Norway Old revision of prev). But if DOST gives no backing this applies in the context of stoorworm, is it not original research to say it applies?
Similary, isn't a dictionary entry "mester" providing "Yorkshire, dialect" definition a bit shakey sourcing for a specifically Orkney dialect word?
Traill Dennison's notes says that Mester Stoorworm signifies "the greatest of the great sea-serpents", and provides other etymologies, generally consistent with SND. So wouldn't WP:DUE considerations dictate Dennison's etymologies not be trumped by your WP:OR and other non-Orkney writers like Westwood?

Edit on Storðar-gandr etymolgy
Placed , as it is only sourced by the Orkn[eyjar website] --Kiyoweap (talk) 23:20, 2 November 2014 (UTC). Formatting modified to indicate relative priority.--Kiyoweap (talk) 05:12, 5 November 2014 (UTC)
User:Kiyoweap, why are you doing this? Challenge to Eric and Sagacious to defend  this and that? Eh, why don't you walk away and do something else for a while, this is not productive.  Hafspajen (talk) 01:23, 3 November 2014 (UTC)

@Hafspajen:: This section is pure WP:BRD. If you are going to weigh in at all, write something of substance, since I wrote on a topic relating to word origins, and I take it that you are Scandinavian. --Kiyoweap (talk) 05:12, 5 November 2014 (UTC)
To be perfectly frank, Kiyoweap, this is becoming very tedious. You are trying to force edits that are against consensus, which is why they are being reverted. When you inserted "greatest great serpent" it was done without any reference to back it up; many of your other comments above are incomprehensible to me. I disagree that orkneyjar.com is unreliable or a fringe theory but if Montanabw, who is a very experienced editor and GA reviewer, wishes me to back up my reasoning for this, I am more than willing to do so. SagaciousPhil - Chat 12:38, 6 November 2014 (UTC)
Sagaciousphil's claim "without any reference" is old: it happened "1. Edit", and was only true for about 1.6 hours, till I referenced it in "Edit 2.4". 
This is not much "incomprehensible" factor about the following: The definition "a monster serpent, a sea-dragon" now in the article is sourced to entry for sture in Scottish National Dictionary (1700–), so you need to just say so plainly. It is only misleading to rope in mention of the other DOST (1400-1700 period) dictionary, which it fails to give instance of "stoor" used in the "stoor worm" context.
Since the Orkneyjar.com is a private website (SPS). What is the webmaster's credentials? Is he linguist/folklorist offering dissenting etymology that trumps that of the published references, Dennison and DSL. This should be slam dunk? Doubt it. Calling it FRINGE may sound bit harsh, but Orkneyjar.com is basically the lone source. This second websource [2], from this McCoy (self-published author?) doesnt mention stoor worm on the webpage that I see, so I dont know what it is meant to accomplish.
Just a stab in the dark, I am not contesting the fact that Storðar-gandr is a kenning for the Midgard serpent in Old Norse texts, you can look that up in Cleasby-Vigfusson to confirm that, if that's what you're trying to do. I am just saying you can't assume that it is applicable here. --Kiyoweap (talk) 15:17, 6 November 2014 (UTC)
There is a difference between etymology and a description of the tale.  I looked at the McCoy source, he does cite his references, which is this.  For WP:GA status, that is sufficient to pass SPS. Montanabw(talk) 02:13, 8 November 2014 (UTC)
 Deferred Even if you discount Dennison's "great sea-serpent" as  "description of the tale", there is still Scottish National Dictionary's definition of sture, stoor as "Big", and below it specifically "stoorworm", so it's still stoor=big according to linguist/SND versus website [1] claiming stoor=Storðar. But this open issue I can table it at Wikipedia:Dispute resolution noticeboard for other opinion, rather than keep asking the reviewer to take on the task of defending a position Eric & Sagacious should be defending.
On the other footnote [2] (McCoy & Simek), I was just confused. Because it was added next to [1] I was tricked into thinking it was meant as addl corroboration for Storðar-gandr etymology. But now I realize it is merely to corrob Jörmungandr="Midgard serpent", which no one was contesting. In my view since [1] is not RS/non-neutral and should be purged, mention of Jörmungandr can then disappear altogether in a puff of smoke just as reviewer had suggested, and thus obviating need for this [2] source.-Kiyoweap (talk) 20:14, 8 November 2014 (UTC)
Yes, I can see the WP:BRD. I notice also that it is recommended: Care and diplomacy should be exercised. Some editors will see any reversion as a challenge, so be considerate and patient. I can't see this happening.
I am only a Wikipedia:Talk page stalker: I am not involved in your editing dispute, but I do address Kiyoweap on two issues here:-Wikipedia:Assume good faith(a) (b) you should take note of Wikipedia:Etiquette as for a discussion that is really not that constructive any more -... and such ...  maybe also Wikipedia:Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point  Sincerely,  Hafspajen (talk) 18:58, 17 November 2014 (UTC)

"Storðar-gandr" etymology is sourced only to a private website http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/stoor.htm and should be removed.
We already have the well-sourced (and obvious) stórr="large" etymology.--Kiyoweap (talk) 13:47, 14 November 2014 (UTC)
Addendum: The premise is wrong anyway. Storðar-gandr is kenning for forest-dwelling snakes, not the World Seprent of the sea (See #Storðar-gandr in Icelandic dictionary below)--Kiyoweap (talk) 10:58, 25 June 2015 (UTC)

In my experience of Orkneyjar it is a pretty good source and certainly better than some books on the general topic of Orkney. I can see no reason to ignore it on these grounds alone, although I agree it would be better to have another reference. According to this source (pdf) the idea may be Towrie's, but it's inclusion here give's it further respectability. Ben MacDui 17:05, 14 November 2014 (UTC)
The pdf source is thesis by Mayo, M Lestón (2014), "Tracing the Dragon", Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.--Kiyoweap (talk) 04:51, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Not to denigrate Sigurd Towrie's impressive Orkneyjar site, but what seems established now is that the Storðar-gandr etymology is Mr. Towrie's own theory, as Ben MacDui seemingly has to concede after his own investigations.
I applaud Ben for discovering one doctorate thesis from Spain footnoting the Storðar etymology, as I was stumped to find anything of the kind, but this is scrounging. The thesis does not specialize in Orkney folklore, and you cannot seriously argue this tips the scale appreciably from being a web-theory to a theory on equal footing with the established etymology in the dictionary.--Kiyoweap (talk) 10:24, 15 November 2014 (UTC)

Enlarging on my comments above, I don't think Towrie's word alone is ideal, but if this same notion were mentioned in passing in a book by a professor of folklore studies who'd never been to Orkney we'd latch onto it as a "reliable source". Why then so hard on someone with a lifetime of local knowledge? (For the record I have no recollection of ever meeting him). For me the issue is not whether to include the idea, as how to nuance its inclusion. The text already reads "may be derived". I'm not sure that addtional caveats are really needed. Ben MacDui 11:24, 15 November 2014 (UTC)

Ben MacDui, "What is the derivation of stoorworm"? is precisely the question. 

In the current edit, the Storðar etymology appears not front and fore, not as passing mention, and I doubt the qualifier "may be" is sufficient to deflect criticism of WP:UNDUE weight.
I am normally more indulgent than others about keeping such minority opinion in an explanatory note, if there is reasonable expectation of discovering an authority after better search or future publication.
But here we have a kenning premise which is a clear refutable mistake. If Ben is unwilling to enquire on this, I will await others used to consulting Icelandic dictionaries before broaching it myself.--Kiyoweap (talk) 13:40, 17 November 2014 (UTC)

As I recall, you asked for feedback. You have had some. Can you explain, in a sentence, what it is you are seeking to amend about the article? Ben MacDui 08:11, 18 November 2014 (UTC)
Ben MacDui, I did create a version representing my edits before reverts in: User:Kiyoweap/Stoor worm, which gives view of what I am "seeking" regarding the etymology section. It is pretty cut and dry. Perhaps you should give us an edit that you consider properly "nuanced" that satisfies WP:NEUTRALITY.
However, you have made it sound as if we should pretend to the viable possibility that a book by a "professor of folklore studies" has, or will emerge to support this etymology. I think you are trying to push the envelope against guideline here, and such a discussion should be tabled at Wikipedia talk:Fringe theories.--Kiyoweap (talk) 14:13, 20 November 2014 (UTC)
I will take a look at this in due course. However, returning to comments above by Hafspajen I am beginning to find your methods of communicating well below optimum. You are as entitled as anyone to draw on expertise as you see fit but I am starting to get the impression that if you don't get the answer you want that you are simply intending to search further and further afield in the hope of getting one that you do like. Nor do I find your belittling interpretations of what I have said to be especially helpful. Ben MacDui 10:00, 22 November 2014 (UTC)


### Storðar-gandr in Icelandic dictionary
In the Cleasby-Vigfusson Icelandic Dictionary, if you look up gandr, it states 

Storðar-gandr, the 'gand' of the earth
and under storð, we find

STORÐ, f. a young wood, plantation, ... 2. the earth (grown with brush-wood)、
where it is explained that storðar gandr is synonymous with storðar úlfr and that both are kennings for "fire".
Another source, Stephan Grundy (1995, 2014), states storðar gandr is a kenning for wind, where the gandr element denotes a wolf according to Meisner and Finnur Jónsson.p.40
As such, Storðar-gandr isn't a kenning for the Midgard serpent at all.  It stands for an ordinary serpent inhabiting forested areas "fire" or "wind". --Kiyoweap (talk) 10:58, 25 June 2015 (UTC) correction in {{darkred}} 21:22, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

To reiterate, the website etymology is spurious WP:FRINGE theory. It contradicts a mistake, contradicted by the standard Icelandic dictionary. It is an alternative etymology that is novel and totally different from that given in the Dictionary of the Scots Language.
McCoy's Jormungand excerpt from Norse Mythology for Smart People I earlier removed from the etymology section, since the excerpt does not mention stoor worm or its etymology at all. I afterwards caught sight of Montanabw mentioning it as referencing Rudolf Simek's well-known book; as this seems to be in reference to belief of a worm as cause of "earthquake", I {{efn}} this material where the article delves into discussion of "earthquake".--Kiyoweap (talk) 04:38, 10 July 2016 (UTC)