An elite Viking Age warrior who fought in a trance-like fury, believed to channel the spirit of bears or wolves in battle. These fearsome fighters served in royal retinues and were renowned for their apparent immunity to pain and weapons while in their battle rage.
From Old Norse berserkr, combining ber (bear) and serkr (shirt/coat), literally meaning 'bear-shirt,' referring to their practice of wearing bear pelts. Alternative etymology suggests ber-serkr meant 'bare-shirt,' indicating they fought without armor, relying on their fury for protection.
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