List of 18 Words That Came From the Vikings
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The English language contains vocabulary from all over the world. In search of words with specific etymological roots? Try this list of words that came from the Vikings.
| Word | Origin |
| aloft | From Old Norse ā lopt, meaning "in the air." |
| berserk |
From Old Norse berserkr, which is a combination of ber ("bear") and serkr ("shirt").
|
| blunder |
From Old Norse blunda or Norwegian dialect blundra, meaning to close one's eyes.
|
| cake | From the Old Norse word kaka. |
| elf | From the Old Norse word alfr. |
| freckle | From the Old Norse word freknōttr. |
| husband |
From Old Norse hūsbōndi, hūs meaning "house" and bōndi meaning "holder."
|
| knife | From the Old Norse word knīfr. |
| ransack |
From Old Norse rannsaka, meaning to search (saka) a house (rann).
|
| scale | From the Old Norse word skāl. |
| slaughter | From the Old Norse word slātra. |
| steak | From Old Norse steik, meaning "to roast." |
| Thursday |
From Old Norse thōrsdagr. The word means "Thor's Day," named after the Norse god of thunder.
|
| troll |
The word means "demon" or "giant" in Old Norse.
|
| ugly | From the Old Norse word uggligr. |
| Viking | From Old Norse vīkingr. |
| window | From the Old Norse word vindauga. |
| yule | From Old Norse jōl or Old English geōl. |
