E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Berser’ker.
Grandson of the eight-handed Starka’der and the beautiful Alfhilde, called bær-serce (bare of mail) because he went into battle unharnessed. Hence, any man with the fighting fever on him.
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“You say that I am berserker. And … baresark I go to-morrow to the war.”—Rev. C. Kingsley: Hereward the Wake.
