A
warrior class, found among the
Norse (or
Vikings as they are commonly
depicted). They fought on the
battlefield with such
fury that they needed no
armour, and could bite through the
iron of a shield and plunge through
fire without
pain. It was not uncommon for such a
warrior to dress in the skins of a
bear or to drink the
blood of such a creature, in the hopes of gaining some of its
strength.
Hallucinogenic compounds were also taken to
enahnce their
rage. An extension from
berserk, meaning to be of
unsound mind,
mad,
insane,
violently angry.
Likely derived from the words baresark (referring to the lack of armour) and bearsark (old Icelandic, literally "bear shirt").