Berserk

From Old Norse berserkr, a Norse warrior who fought in a wild, trancelike frenzy. The name is probably “bear-shirt” (ber-, “bear,” plus serkr, “shirt”), one clad in bearskin — though some read it as “bare-shirt,” fighting without armor; the two readings are disputed. Sir Walter Scott introduced the word to English in 1822.

  1. adjective · /ber-ZURK/

    Wildly and destructively out of control, as if seized by uncontrollable rage.

    The state of frenzy in which restraint vanishes entirely — fury or chaos with nothing holding it back.

    The printer jammed for the fifth time and he finally went berserk on it.

    Frenzied describes wild agitation; berserk adds destructive, out-of-control rage, as if every restraint has snapped.