Viking

[vahy-king]

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. any of the Scandinavian pirates who plundered the coasts of Europe from the 8th to 10th centuries.

2. a sea-roving bandit; pirate.

3. a Scandinavian.

4. U.S. Aerospace.,  one of a series of space probes that obtained scientific information about Mars.

Viking

/ ˈvaɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. 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

2. any sea rover, plunderer, or pirate

3. either of two unmanned American spacecraft that reached Mars in 1976

4. (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of a Viking or Vikings

   a Viking ship

Word History and Origins

Origin of Viking¹

1800–10; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vīkingr; compare Old English wīcing pirate; etymology disputed

Word History and Origins

Origin of Viking¹

C19: from Old Norse vīkingr, probably from vīk creek, sea inlet + -ingr (see _-ing ³); perhaps related to Old English wīc camp

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.

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All were blond and tall and broad shouldered as Vikings.

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The fifth-year cornerback leapt high in full sprint with his hand stretched over his head to intercept a pass by Vikings quarterback J.J.

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Boyd was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2019 draft and has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans.

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Late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s divisional showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears gave up a devastating long touchdown drive.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal