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Where does the word "viking" come from? It comes from Old Norse vikingr, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).
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Where does the word "viking" come from? It comes from Old Norse vikingr, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).
Viking’s story begins in Old Norse: vikingr meant “a seafaring raider.” A seafaring raider or pirate from Scandinavia. It reached English by 1800s as viking. Revived by historians for the Scandinavian seafarers of the medieval period. Today, viking means a Scandinavian seafarer, trader, or raider of the medieval period.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval vikingr "a seafaring raider", a seafaring raider or pirate from Scandinavia.
- Stage 2 · English · 1800s viking "a Scandinavian seafaring raider", revived by historians for the Scandinavian seafarers of the medieval period.