Norse

[nawrs]

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their language.

2. Norwegian.

noun

1. (used with a plural verb),  the Norwegians, especially the ancient Norwegians.

2. (used with a plural verb),  the Northmen or ancient Scandinavians generally.

3. the Norwegian language, especially in its older forms.

Norse

/ nɔːs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient and medieval Scandinavia or its inhabitants

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Norway

noun

1. 1. the N group of Germanic languages, spoken in Scandinavia; Scandinavian

   2. any one of these languages, esp in their ancient or medieval forms See also Proto-Norse Old Norse

2. (functioning as plural)

   1. the Norwegians

   2. the Vikings

Other Word Forms

• non-Norse adjective non-Norse
• pre-Norse adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Norse¹

1590–1600; perhaps < Dutch noorsch, obsolete variant of noordsch (now noords ), equivalent to noord north + -sch -ish ¹. Compare Norwegian, Swedish, Danish Norsk Norwegian, Norse

Example Sentences

According to scholars of Scandinavian studies, many widely held beliefs about Vikings and Old Norse paganism cannot be confirmed through modern scientific methods.

Read more on Science Daily

One picture of the Vikings, she says, is of them "being raiders and pillagers and attacking monasteries - then they turn into these more peaceful Norse settlers".

Read more on BBC

Mr Edgley has previously joked that the challenge would be "the closest thing yet to swimming around Asgard" - the mythical home of the Norse god Thor.

Read more on BBC

The design depicts a man dancing a jig while holding a Christian cross above a symbol linked to the Norse god Odin.

Read more on BBC

The design of the double-ended yole has origins going back to the Norse Viking raiding boats that arrived on Scotland's shores a millennia ago.

Read more on BBC