berserk

[ ber-surk, -zurk ]
/ bərˈsɜrk, -ˈzɜrk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR berserk ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

violently or destructively frenzied; wild; crazed; deranged: He suddenly went berserk.

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) Scandinavian Legend. Also ber·serk·er. an ancient Norse warrior who fought with frenzied rage in battle, possibly induced by eating hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Origin of berserk

1865–70; < Old Norse berserkr, equivalent to ber- (either *ber-, base of bjǫrn bear2 or berr bare1) + serkr sark, shirt, armor

OTHER WORDS FROM berserk

ber·serk·ly, adverb ber·serk·ness, noun

Words nearby berserk

berry, chuck, berryfruit, berryman, bersagliere, berseem, berserk, bert, berth, bertha, berthage, berthelot

Words related to berserk

crazy, demented, deranged, insane, mad, maniacal, manic, violent

Example sentences from the Web for berserk

British Dictionary definitions for berserk

berserk
/ (bəˈzɜːk, -ˈsɜːk) /

adjective

frenziedly violent or destructive (esp in the phrase go berserk)

noun

Also called: berserker a member of a class of ancient Norse warriors who worked themselves into a frenzy before battle and fought with insane fury and courage

Word Origin for berserk

C19: Icelandic berserkr, from björn bear + serkr shirt