Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,586,650,456 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

berserk

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
ber·serk  (br-sûrk, -zûrk, b-)
adj.
1. Destructively or frenetically violent: a berserk worker who started smashing all the windows.
2. Mentally or emotionally upset; deranged: berserk with grief.
3. Informal Unrestrained, as with enthusiasm or appetite; wild: berserk over chocolates.
n.
1. One that is violent, upset, or unrestrained.
2. A berserker.

[Back-formation from berserker.]

ber·serk adv.
ber·serkly adv.
Word History: When we say that we are going berserk, we may not realize how extreme a state this might be. Our adjective comes from the noun berserker, or berserk, which is from the Old Norse word berserkr, "a wild warrior or champion." Such warriors wore hides of bears, which explains the probable origin of berserkr as a compound of *bera, "bear," and serkr, "shirt, coat." These berserkers became frenzied in battle, howling like animals, foaming at the mouth, and biting the edges of their iron shields. Berserker is first recorded in English in the early 19th century, long after these wild warriors ceased to exist.

berserk [bəˈzɜːk -ˈsɜːk]
adj
frenziedly violent or destructive (esp in the phrase go berserk)
n
(Myth & Legend / Norse Myth & Legend) Also called berserker a member of a class of ancient Norse warriors who worked themselves into a frenzy before battle and fought with insane fury and courage
[Icelandic berserkr, from björn bear + serkr shirt]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.berserk - one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury
Norse, Northman, Scandinavian - an inhabitant of Scandinavia
Adj.1.berserk - frenzied as if possessed by a demon; "the soldier was completely amuck"; "berserk with grief"; "a berserk worker smashing windows"
insane - afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement; "was declared insane"; "insane laughter"

berserk
adjective crazy, wild, mad, frantic, ape (slang), insane, apeshit (slang) When I saw him I went berserk.
Translations
berserk [bəˈsɜːk] ADJdesquiciado
to drive sb berserkdesquiciar a algn
to go berserkperder los estribos, ponerse hecho una furia
berserk [bərˈzɜːrk bərˈsɜːrk] adj [person, outburst] → fou* furieux*(folle)/euse
to go berserk (= become furious) → devenir fou furieux
She went berserk → Elle est devenue folle furieuse. (= go crazy) → se déchaîner
berserk
adjwild; to go berserkwild werden; (audience)aus dem Häuschen geraten (inf), → zu toben anfangen; (= go mad)überschnappen (inf), → verrückt werden
berserk [bəˈsɜːk] adj to go berserkdare in escandescenze; (with anger) → andare or montare su tutte le furie


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
Add definition
Mentioned in?  References in classic literature?   Dictionary browser?   Full browser?
 
The Professor, with his face flushed, his nostrils dilated, and his beard bristling, was now in a proper Berserk mood.
He felt tremendous--a sort of blend of Oliver Cromwell, a Berserk warrior, and Sir Galahad.
 
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.