Where does “berserkness” come from?
berserkness (English) comes from English berserk, from Old Norse berserkr, from Old Norse serkr, from Proto-Germanic sarkiz, from Proto-Indo-European swerg-, from Proto-Indo-European sēr-, from Proto-Indo-European ser- — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.
berserkness (English): The quality of being berserk
Definitions
- The quality of being berserk
Ancestry of “berserkness”, step by step
berserkness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English berserk
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | berserk | A crazed Norse warrior who fought in a frenzy; a... |
| 2 | Old Norse | berserkr | a Scandinavian warrior; a raging warrior of... |
| 3 | Old Norse | serkr | A shirt |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | sarkiz | sark, shirt; coat of mail |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swerg- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sēr- | to flow |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ser- | to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |