Completely out of control, wild, or violent; going crazy or acting in an uncontrolled manner.
From Old Norse 'berserkr,' possibly meaning 'bear-shirt' (from 'ber' for bear and 'serkr' for shirt/armor), referring to Viking warriors who fought with legendary ferocity. May derive from shamanic bear-costume rituals.
Berserkers might have actually existed—historians think they could have been elite Viking warriors on drugs, been in psychological trance states, or fought in bear hides as part of spiritual ritual, making history's most fearsome soldiers possibly fueled by biology, psychology, or spirituality!
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