Plural of berserk; wild, destructive warriors in Norse mythology, or people who lose control and act violently.
From Old Norse 'berserkr,' possibly from 'ber' (bare/bare-shirted) and 'serkr' (shirt). Medieval saga writers romanticized these warriors as fearless fighters who entered battle frenzies.
The 'berserk rage' might have been real—some historians think these warriors used psychological techniques or hallucinogenic mushrooms to enter altered states, making them seem superhuman to enemies who didn't understand what was happening!
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