Norse

[ nawrs ]

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their language.
2. Norwegian ( def 1 ).

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the Norwegians, especially the ancient Norwegians.
2. (used with a plural verb) the Northmen or ancient Scandinavians generally.
3. the Norwegian language, especially in its older forms.

Norse

/ nɔːs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient and medieval Scandinavia or its inhabitants
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Norway

noun

1. 1. the N group of Germanic languages, spoken in Scandinavia; Scandinavian
   2. any one of these languages, esp in their ancient or medieval forms See also Proto-Norse Old Norse
2. the Norse
   functioning as plural
   1. the Norwegians
   2. the Vikings

Other Words From

• non-Norse adjective noun plural nonNorse
• pre-Norse adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Norse¹

1590–1600; perhaps < Dutch noorsch, obsolete variant of noordsch (now noords ), equivalent to noord north + -sch -ish ¹. Compare Norwegian, Swedish, Danish Norsk Norwegian, Norse

Example Sentences

California health officials have traced the instance to a passenger on Norse Atlantic Airways flight Z0711, which arrived at the Tom Bradley International Terminal of LAX at about 2:15 p.m. on July 26.

From Salon

Because the skull was bound for a museum in Denmark, the team named the animal after the Norse god Loki.

From New York Times

So give it up for the Golden State Valkyries, named for the powerful female warriors from Norse mythology.

From New York Times

“Olympus is the home of the gods in Greek mythology, and Asgard is the home of the gods in Norse mythology.”

From Literature

Loki Patera might sound like the name of a Norse god's heavy metal band, but it is actually a lake made of lava located on one of Jupiter's moons, Io.

From Salon