berserk definition

English berserk definition

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Old Norse berserkr (“Norse warrior who fights in a frenzy”), probably from bjǫrn (“bear”) + serkr (“coat; shirt”), referring to the bearskins which the warriors wore.^[1][2] Bjǫrn is possibly ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“brown”); and serkr from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to bind, tie together; thread”). Alternatively, it has been suggested that the first element of the word is from berr (“bare, naked”),^[2] referring to warriors who went into battle without armour, but this is now thought unlikely.^[3] Doublet of berserker.

The adjective is derived from the noun.^[1]

Pronunciation

• Noun:
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɜːsɜːk/
  • (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɚˌsɚk/
• Adjective:
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /bəˈzɜːk/, /bɜː-/, /-ˈsɜːk/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

  • (General American) IPA^(key): /bɚˈsɚk/, /-ˈzɚk/
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k
• Hyphenation: ber‧serk

Noun

berserk (plural berserks)

1. (historical) Synonym of berserker (“a Norse warrior who fought in a frenzy”)
   • 1848, [Charles Kingsley], “New Actors, and a New Stage”, in Yeast: A Problem. […], London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], published 1851, OCLC 1198240581, page 40:

     She had heard of his profligacy, his bursts of fierce Berserk-madness; and yet now these very faults, instead of repelling, seemed to attract her, and intensify her longing to save him.

   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, “‘‘Question!’’”, in The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, OCLC 1029993343, page 76:

     The Professor, with his face flushed, his nostrils dilated, and his beard bristling, was now in a proper Berserk mood.

Alternative forms

• beserk, berzerk

Derived terms

• beresque (Australian, jocular)

Translations

See also

• Úlfhéðinn

Adjective

berserk (comparative more berserk, superlative most berserk)

1. Furiously, injuriously, or maniacally violent or out of control.

   After seeing his sister stabbed to death, he went berserk and attacked the killer like a wild animal.

   • 1908 (date written)​, Rudyard Kipling, “Regulus”, in A Diversity of Creatures, London: Macmillan and Co., […], published 1917, OCLC 16873007, page 264:

     'You went Berserk. I've read all about it in Hypatia.' […] 'You've gone Berserk and pretty soon you'll go to sleep. But you'll probably be liable to fits of it all your life,' Beetle concluded.

2. (by extension)
   1. Bizarre; weird.
      • 2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎^[1], London: Guardian News & Media, ISSN 0261-3077, OCLC 229952407, archived from the original on 30 March 2022:

        [T]he writer conjured up a dystopian fantasy more berserk than anything you might find yourself listening to in the small hours at the Stone Circle.

   2. Wildly joyous; ecstatic.

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:happy

      Antonyms: see Thesaurus:unhappy

      • 2021 October 12, Jamie Lyall, “Faroe Islands 0 – 1 Scotland”, in BBC Sport‎^[2], archived from the original on 24 July 2022:

        In amongst the strife, Scott McTominay, whose stoppage-time winner against Israel sent Hampden berserk, and Ryan Christie offered signs of an attacking pulse.

Derived terms

• berserkly
• berserkness

Translations

See also

• amok

Notes

References

Further reading

• Berserker on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• berserk, berserker, beserk at Google Ngram Viewer
• berserk at OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Kerbers

---

Czech berserk definition

Alternative forms

• berserkr

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɛrsɛrk]

Noun

berserk m

1. berserk

Further reading

• berserk in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• berserk in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

---

French berserk definition

Etymology

From Old Norse berserkr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛʁ.zɛʁk/

Noun

berserk m (plural berserks)

1. (historical) berserk, berserker (frenzied Norse warrior)

---

Polish berserk definition

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Norse berserkr (Icelandic berserkur, Swedish bärsärk), probably from bjǫrn (“bear”) + serkr (“coat”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛr.sɛrk/
• Rhymes: -ɛrsɛrk
• Syllabification: ber‧serk

Noun

berserk m pers

1. (mythology) berserk

Declension

Further reading

• berserk in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• berserk in Polish dictionaries at PWN