Where does “berserk” come from?

Berserk derives from Old Norse berserkr, combining Old Norse bjǫrn (bear) with a root from Proto-Germanic bernuz, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰer- (to bear or carry).

berserk (English): A crazed Norse warrior who fought in a frenzy; a...

Definitions

  1. A crazed Norse warrior who fought in a frenzy; a...

Ancestry of “berserk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseberserkra Scandinavian warrior; a raging warrior of...
2Old NorseserkrA shirt
3Proto-Germanicsarkizsark, shirt; coat of mail
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswerg-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeansēr-to flow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanser-to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together

Words derived from “berserk”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ser- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European sēr- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European swerg- →