Norse

[nawrs]

adjective

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

Norwegian(def 1).

noun

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

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

the Norwegian language, especially in its older forms.

Compare Old Norse.

Origin of Norse

1590–1600; perhaps < Dutch noorsch, obsolete variant of noordsch (now noords), equivalent to noord north + -sch -ish¹. Compare Norwegian, Swedish, Danish Norsk Norwegian, Norse

Related formsnon-Norse, adjective, noun, plural non-Norse.pre-Norse, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for norse

Contemporary Examples of norse

He added that Norse has good relations with the FBI and has consulted with them on other crime cases.
FBI Won’t Stop Blaming North Korea for Sony Hack -- Despite New Evidence
Shane Harris
December 30, 2014
From afar, the confab known as the World Economic Forum in Davos looked a little like Asgard, the mythical home of the Norse gods.
At Davos 2014, The Gods Of Mischief Rule
Christopher Dickey
January 21, 2014
In Norse mythology, Loki is a shape-shifting god who enjoys the occasional turn as a woman.
How Marvel’s Loki Became A Bi-curious Villain
Sujay Kumar
November 9, 2013
Did naming your car after a Norse, shape-shifting god help you avoid speed traps?
Maggie Stiefvater Talks New Novel ‘The Raven Boys,’ Fast Cars, and YA Fiction
Doug Stanton
September 28, 2012
Why did the Norse not turn back and find a way to warmer climes, but instead map the North Sea and the coastline?
This Week’s Hot Reads: June 18, 2012
Jimmy So
June 18, 2012

Historical Examples of norse

In Domesday it is spelt 'Flaneburg,' and flane is the Norse for an arrow or sword.
Yorkshire Painted And Described
Gordon Home
William Bowie; probably from Gaelic buidhe, yellow, and so not Norse at all.
Lavengro
George Borrow
This country was a common field for the depredations of the Norse rovers.
Historical Tales, Vol. 9 (of 15)
Charles Morris
"I will show you," said Dulcibel, the Norse blood of her father glowing in her face.
Dulcibel
Henry Peterson
Trustworthy pictures of Norse houses and costumes are difficult to obtain.
Viking Tales
Jennie Hall

British Dictionary definitions for norse

Norse

adjective

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

of, relating to, or characteristic of Norway

noun

the N group of Germanic languages, spoken in Scandinavia; Scandinavian
any one of these languages, esp in their ancient or medieval formsSee also Proto-Norse, Old Norse

the Norse (functioning as plural)

the Norwegians
the Vikings

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

Word Origin and History for norse

Norse

1590s, "a Norwegian," from obsolete Dutch Noorsch (adj.) "Norwegian," from noordsch "northern, nordic," from noord "north" (see north). Also in some cases borrowed from cognate Danish or Norwegian norsk. As a language, from 1680s. Old Norse attested from 1844. An Old English word for "a Norwegian" was Norðman. As an adjective from 1768.

In Old French, Norois as a noun meant "a Norse, Norseman," also "action worth of a man from the North (i.e. usually considered as deceitful)" [Hindley, et. al.]; as an adjective it meant "northern, Norse, Norwegian," also "proud, fierce, fiery, strong."