*Raidō "ride" (by extension "journey, wagon etc") is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the r- rune of the Elder Futhark . The name is attested for the same rune in all three rune poems, Old Norwegian Ræið Icelandic Reið, Anglo-Saxon Rad, as well as for the corresponding letter of the Gothic alphabet 𐍂 r, called raida. The shape of the rune may be directly derived from Latin R.
Rune Poem:Original poems and translation from the Rune Poem Page. English Translation: Old Norwegian Ræið kveða rossom væsta; Reginn sló sværðet bæzta.Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses; Reginn forged the finest sword. Old Icelandic Reið er sitjandi sæla ok snúðig ferð ok jórs erfiði. iter ræsir. Riding is of sitting a blessing and swift journey and horses toiling Old English Rad bẏþ on recẏde rinca gehƿẏlcum sefte ond sƿiþhƿæt, ðamðe sitteþ on ufan meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas. Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads on the back of a stout horse.
References
External links Futhark (ancientscripts.com) Runes around the North Sea and on the Continent AD 150-700 by J. H. Looijenga (dissertation, Groningen University)