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TheChaedini (Latinized form) orChaideinoi orKhaideinoi (Greek forms) were aGermanic people that are listed only in the Geography ofPtolemy. He locates them in the west of a large island,Scandia, off the mouth of theVistula river. Most scholars concur that Scandinavia is meant.
A strong etymology of the word is summarized in theAmerican Heritage Dictionary underheath. Chaideinoi is identical in form to its English relative, heathen; that is, Proto-Indo-European *kaito-, "forest, uncultivated land" becomes Common Germanic *xaiþiz, appearing in *xaiþinaz, "people of the uncultivated land". The exact pronunciation of Chaidein- is not certain, but it must have been close to *xaiþin-; that is, Ptolemy's name is close to Common Germanic, even though its exact dating is unknown. It likely precedes Ptolemy, as he depended on previous sources.
Common Germanic *xaiþ- becomes Hed- in the Scandinavian languages. Possible locations of the Chaideinoi have therefore been proposed atHedemark inNorway or, if the east of Scandia is actuallyFinland, inDalarna andGästrikland ofSweden, both of which regions contain a high concentration of Hed- names.
The descriptive nature of the name provides a clue as to why they do not appear in such strong sources asTacitus. They must have had one or more other names, reflecting ethnic or political organization. As used, Chaideinoi would be synonymous with a possible meaning of*mannaz as "country people" (see alsomannus).
