definitions

berserk

[ ber-surk, -zurk ]
/ bərˈsɜrk, -ˈzɜrk /
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SEE MORE 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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

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

Origin of berserk

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

Related forms

ber·serk·ly, adverbber·serk·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012