Viking

UK: /ˈvaɪkɪŋ/ US: (vī′king)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Vi•king  (vī′king), n. (sometimes l.c.)

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

• Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vīkingr; compare Old English wīcing pirate; etymology, etymological disputed
• 1800–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Viking / ˈvaɪkɪŋ/ noun (sometimes not capital)

1. Also called: Norseman, Northman 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. (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of a Viking or Vikings: a Viking ship

Etymology: 19th Century: from Old Norse vīkingr, probably from vīk creek, sea inlet + -ingr (see -ing³); perhaps related to Old English wīc camp