jungfrukälla

Etymology

 * according to a folk story three men once attacked three sisters in the forest, but rather than letting the men have their way with them, the sisters committed suicide by banging their heads against birch trees, and three springs arose from their blood. The story is associated with several locations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Faroe Islands. There are local variations to the story.

Noun

 * 1)  A spring, usually one of a group of three, which is believed to have come into existence due to a tragic death of a maiden.

Usage notes

 * has directed a film ("") which is based on this legend.
 * This term is not common enough to be recognized in the Swedish Academy's dictionary.