Have you ever seen someone ‘go berserk’? If you’ve seen someone behave in a completely crazy way, then you probably have.

Picture the scene… A ship that has travelled miles across the oceans pulls up at night on the English shores. On its deck stand terrifyingly fierce Viking warriors preparing to fight to the death anyone who dares to stand in their way. They wear helmets and carry shields, axes and spears. Wrapped around their bodies are thick bearskins, which keep them warm and make them look even more ferocious.

It’s the stuff of nightmares, don’t you think? Well, between the years 800 and 1100, such scenes were very real. And they are the reason behind the word ‘berserk’.

Berserkr, in the Viking’s native language, meant ‘bear-shirt’. Historians believe that the Viking warriors, before battle, would put on their bearskins and perform a terrifying, crazy-looking war dance known as the ‘berserker rage’. Perhaps they believed that the strength of the bear would be passed onto them, allowing them to fight as ferociously as a wild animal, and to conquer any enemy.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on putting on a ‘bear-shirt’ anytime soon. Although hang on — perhaps it could come in useful in Dictionary Corner each time I have to reject a contestant’s word!