Editing Myling (section)

== History ==
The word "utburd" has a double meaning; the prefix "ut-" can mean both "out" and "extra" (similar to English uses of out- in outhouse & outcast vs outrun & outdone vs outbreak which carries both meanings); the Norwegian verb "burd" can mean "born/birth" and/or "burden" thus meaning "out-born/birth" and "extra-burden". The meaning "out-born/birth" refers to the practice of abandoning unwanted children (e.g., children born [[out of wedlock]] or to parents who lacked the means to care for them) in the woods or in other remote places where death is likely to befall the child. It is believed that the ghost of the child will then haunt the place where they had died or, as told of in countless stories, the dwellings of their killers. The "extra-burden" meaning could also explain the motif or trope of the myling or utburd getting heavier as they're carried to hallowed ground to be buried. 

"Myling" means Murderling "a murdered small child" and also "small child that murders" from Old Norse myrþa meaning "to murder" with the suffix -ling meaning "small child" in this case. This offers an explanation to the stories of the Myling being murdered and murdering.

This [[infanticide]] was generally carried out secretly and its victims were often abandoned shortly after birth. From the perspective of certain Christian denominations, the babies were thus denied baptism, acceptance into the Church, and proper burial. As such, they could not rest peacefully.

The belief that mylings are enraged and seeking revenge is what gave them the reputation as one of the most menacing types of ghosts in Scandinavian folklore.