50+ Facts That Will Change the Way You Watch Netflix’s “Vikings”
It’s Thanks to Vikings That We Have the Word, Berserk
If we dive into the etymology of “berserk,” it’d take us on a linguistic path through Old Norse history. The word comes from “berserkr,” with “ber-” likely meaning “bare” and “serkr” translating to “shirt.”
Thus, “bare of shirt” may refer to warriors who might have fought without armor. Far from the image of wild, uncontrollable warriors, this word evokes the term “berserk,” which has more to do with the practicality of the Norse language.
NEXT: But beyond the word, berserkers were no joke.
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