Viking

[ vahy-king ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. any of the Scandinavian pirates who plundered the coasts of Europe from the 8th to 10th centuries.
2. a sea-roving bandit; pirate.
3. a Scandinavian.
4. U.S. Aerospace. one of a series of space probes that obtained scientific information about Mars.

Viking

/ ˈvaɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. Also calledNorsemanNorthman any of the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes who raided by sea most of N and W Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries, later often settling, as in parts of Britain
2. any sea rover, plunderer, or pirate
3. either of two unmanned American spacecraft that reached Mars in 1976
4. modifier of, relating to, or characteristic of a Viking or Vikings

   a Viking ship

Word History and Origins

Origin of Viking¹

1800–10; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vīkingr; compare Old English wīcing pirate; etymology disputed

Word History and Origins

Origin of Viking¹

C19: from Old Norse vīkingr, probably from vīk creek, sea inlet + -ingr (see -ing ³); perhaps related to Old English wīc camp

Example Sentences

One of the parts of the book that I loved writing was about the Viking ships and the wood they chose.

From Time

Another recent example is a partnership with Ubisoft, where users raised miniature Viking ships against strongman Hafþór Björnsson, for some reason.

From TechCrunch

Its maps also helped point to landing sites for NASA’s Viking missions to Mars in the mid-70s.

From Science News For Students

Perhaps Viking-Age people chose and renegotiated their identities every day, much as many of us do.

From Time

Eleven remains belonged to people — including some thought to be Vikings — who had lived in northern Europe, western Russia and the United Kingdom during the Viking Age more than 1,000 years ago.

From Science News

“This was a Viking area where they settled and traded,” said Campbell.

From The Daily Beast

While things had picked up by the height of the Viking era in the 9th and 10th centuries, two things were holding the region back.

From The Daily Beast

The economic recovery in Europe, contends Winroth, “was during the Viking Age.”

From The Daily Beast

Reprinted by arrangement with Viking, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company.

From The Daily Beast

This excerpt is published with the permission of the author and the publisher, Viking Press.

From The Daily Beast

There was nothing eventful in our talk as we came down the mountain-side towards Viking—Justine Caron's presence prevented that.

From Project Gutenberg

Others spoke in similar fashion, and then Viking went back to work, and we to our mountain cottage.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the conversation turned upon the feud that existed between Viking and Sunburst, the river-drivers and the fishers.

From Project Gutenberg

At Viking one got the impression of a strong pioneer life, vibrant, eager, and with a touch of Arcady.

From Project Gutenberg

She had learned of the accident on her way to Viking, and had turned back; but only to wait and know the worst or the best.

From Project Gutenberg