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Today it means

berserk

in a wild, uncontrollable state of rage or excitement

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Where does the word "berserk" come from? It comes from Old Norse berserkr, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

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Where does the word "berserk" come from? It comes from Old Norse berserkr, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Berserk’s story begins in Old Norse: berserkr meant “a frenzied warrior.” Literally "bear-shirt", a warrior said to fight in a trance-like fury. It reached English by 1800s as berserk. Walter Scott's novel 'The Pirate' (1822) introduced 'berserkar' to English readers. Today, berserk means in a wild, uncontrollable state of rage or excitement.

  1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval berserkr "a frenzied warrior", literally "bear-shirt", a warrior said to fight in a trance-like fury.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s berserk "in an uncontrollable, violent rage", Walter Scott's novel 'The Pirate' (1822) introduced 'berserkar' to English readers.

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