berserk English · revision 30

+ ==Etymology==

+ From [[berserker]], a Norse warrior, a word introduced (as ''berserkar'') by Sir Walter Scott in ''The Pirate'' (1822).^(Etymonline) It is [[bor|non|berserkr|t=raging warrior of superhuman strength]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) probably from ''ber-'' “bear” + ''serkr'' “shirt”, i.e. “bear-coat”.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) Scott evidently took it instead from ''berr'' “bare”, as a warrior who fought without armour.^(Etymonline)

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+ The adjective, as in ''go berserk'', is recorded from 1844.^(Etymonline) Compare [[bear]] and [[sark]].^(Etymonline)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}