n. One of a band of ancient Norse warriors legendary for their savagery and reckless frenzy in battle. [Old Norse berserkr : perhaps ber-, bear (akin to björn, bear, and bera, she-bear, from the bear-skins perhaps worn by the warriors ; see bher-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) or berr, bare (from the fact that ancient European warriors often fought nude ; see bhoso- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + serkr, shirt.] |
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