Viking
[ vahy-king ]
/ ˈvaɪ kɪŋ /
noun (sometimes lowercase)
any of the Scandinavian pirates who plundered the coasts of Europe from the 8th to 10th centuries.
a sea-roving bandit; pirate.
a Scandinavian.
U.S. Aerospace.
one of a series of space probes that obtained scientific information about Mars.
Origin of Viking
1800–10; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse
vīkingr; compare Old English
wīcing pirate; etymology disputed
Example sentences from the Web for vikings
British Dictionary definitions for vikings
Viking
/ (ˈvaɪkɪŋ) /
noun (sometimes not capital)
Also called: Norseman, Northman
any of the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes who raided by sea most of N and W Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries, later often settling, as in parts of Britain
any sea rover, plunderer, or pirate
either of two unmanned American spacecraft that reached Mars in 1976
(modifier)
of, relating to, or characteristic of a Viking or Vikings
a Viking ship
Word Origin for Viking
C19: from Old Norse
vīkingr, probably from
vīk creek, sea inlet +
-ingr (see
-ing ³); perhaps related to Old English
wīc camp
Cultural definitions for vikings
Vikings
Warriors from Scandinavia who raided much of coastal Europe in the eighth to tenth centuries. The Vikings traveled in boats with high bows and sterns, carefully designed for either rough seas or calm waters. Eventually some Vikings settled in the countries they plundered and established new societies.