Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A crazed Norse warrior who fought in a frenzy.
  • adjective Injuriously, maniacally, or furiously violent or out of control.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old Norse berserkr (Icelandic berserkur), probably from bjǫrn ‘bear’ + serkr ‘coat’.

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Examples

  • The entire population of this country needs to be educated and to understand that they can be part of the solution, and that their greedy, self-centered behavior in insisting on driving everywhere in gas-guzzling vehicles, eating huge quantities of meat, and participating in a consumer society gone beserk is one of the main causes of global warming.

    Think Progress » New Study: Global Warming, Not ‘Natural Cycles,’ Played Major Role in 2005 Hurricane Season 2006

  • Moreover, the word "amok" has anthropological grounding with various accounts of lonely, frustrated and disturbed men who have suffered loss going beserk, running amok (a Malay word) and randomly killing people (see Steven Pinker How The Mind Works, 1997).

    Jackson Katz: Conversation with Philosopher on School Shootings 2008

  • He denied members had gone "beserk" as alleged by the IFP, adding that members were merely exercising their right to self defence.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • It was afterwards alleged by the IFP that policemen involved had gone "beserk", had acted "excessively and regarded the lives of black Africans as cheap".

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • An unnamed friend of Goldsmith told the newspaper that Blair went "beserk" when he received the letter because it undermined his case for war.

    Bangkokpost.com : Breaking News 2009

  • An unnamed friend of Goldsmith told the newspaper that Blair went "beserk" when he received the letter because it undermined his case for war.

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2009

  • An unnamed friend of Goldsmith told the newspaper that Blair went "beserk" when he received the letter because it undermined his case for war.

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2009

  • Watch Charlie Rose goes beserk defending snarky Maureen Dawd from this interview with David Denby who was promoting his new book called Snark.

    Praise Shark or Snark 2009

  • Watch Charlie Rose goes beserk defending snarky Maureen Dawd from this interview with David Denby who was promoting his new book called Snark.

    Vitro Nasu » 2009 » February 2009

  • Lost in Space "The Keeper" ship and Smith going beserk.

    Lost in Space "The Keeper" ship and Smith going beserk. Randy Wilharm 2009

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