English · Word Candidate

Viking

/ˈvaɪkɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: Vikings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Scandinavian/Northern European seafarers, most familiarly raiders and pirates during the Viking age.

Noun

Examples

Henchmen had placed, as was their habit, each warrior's gear and trappings above his pile of skins. Thus you could see the burnished helmet of each warrior set in readiness above his head. It was the Viking habit.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A stock character common in the fantasy genre, namely a barbarian, generally equipped with an axe or sword and a helmet adorned with horns.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “Viking” mean?

Scandinavian/Northern European seafarers, most familiarly raiders and pirates during the Viking age.

Is “Viking” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.