Berserkers
/ˈbɜːr.sɜːr.kərz/noun
Fierce Norse warriors said to fight in a frenzied, trance-like state.
Did you know?The Old Norse term likely means “bear-shirt” (from *berr* or *björn* + *serkr*), and medieval sources describe berserkers as warriors who entered a terrifying, near-uncontrollable battle fury.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*serkaz
“shirt, garment”
Old Norse
ON
berserkr
“a berserk warrior, likely a “bear-shirt” or possibly “bare-shirt” fighter”
Old Norse
ON
berserksgangr
“berserk rage; the frenzy of a berserker”
Middle English
English
berserk
“wildly frenzied or violently uncontrolled”
Modern English
English
berserker
“a person who acts with violent, reckless fury”