rune

noun

• 1a letter of an ancient Germanic alphabet, related to the Roman alphabet: long ago, a rune had been carved in the centre of the stone the pommel and guard are embellished with runes
• a symbol with mysterious or magic significance.
• (runes) small stones, pieces of bone, etc., bearing symbols with mysterious or magic significance, and used in divination:the casting of the runes
• a spell or incantation.

• 2a section of the Kalevala or of an ancient Scandinavian poem.

Runes were used by Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons from about the 3rd century. They were formed mainly by modifying Roman or Greek characters to suit carving, and were used both in writing and in divination