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

McCarthy completed a deep pass just before halftime in a Sept. 14 game in which the Vikings trailed the Atlanta Falcons, Foster McCoy immediately bought contracts on a Vikings win.

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One ironic artifact is a letter to a friend of Otto Frank’s from an unnamed Viking editor—the signature is illegible—rejecting the manuscript.

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Martin—bronzed with flowing locks, as if a Viking chief had a great tanning regimen—is one of the most successful songsmiths in history.

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The Vikings and Texans are off this week.

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Dublin hosted its first regular-season game last Sunday, with the Pittsburgh Steelers holding on for a thrilling win over the Minnesota Vikings.

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