Word of the Day

: January 9, 2009

berserk

adjective ber-SERK

What It Means

: frenzied, crazed -- usually used in the phrase go berserk

berserk in Context

Fans went berserk as they watched the running back dive in for the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game.

Did You Know?

"Berserk" comes from Old Norse "berserkr," which combines "ber-" ("bear") and "serkr" ("shirt"). According to Norse legend, "berserkrs" were warriors who wore bearskin coverings and worked themselves into such frenzies during combat that they became immune to the effects of steel and fire. "Berserk" was borrowed into English (first as a noun and later as an adjective) in the early 19th century, when interest in Scandinavian myth and history was high. It was considered a slang term at first, but it has since gained broader acceptance.