Norse

1 of 2

noun

ˈnȯrs 

plural Norse

1

a

: norwegian sense 2

b

: any of the western Scandinavian dialects or languages

c

: the Scandinavian group of Germanic languages

2

plural

a

: scandinavians

b

: norwegians

Norse

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to ancient Scandinavia or the language of its inhabitants

2

: norwegian

Examples of Norse in a Sentence

Noun

The Norse arrived in the ninth century.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Allen's defense team aggressively pushed their theory that Odinists, members of a pagan Norse religion hijacked by white nationalists, killed the girls during a sacrificial ritual in the woods. —Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Nov. 2024

The incident is chronicled in a medieval Norse text, which suggests that the men hoped to poison the area’s water supply. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

The defense, meanwhile, is hoping to use the placement of the sticks as evidence of their theory the girls were killed not by Allen, but rather in a ritualistic murder, perhaps as part of Odinism, a branch of Norse paganism with a far-right strain. —Zoe Sottile, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024

This Proto-Indo-European root gave rise to similar words in other languages, such as sand in Old Norse, sant in Dutch, and sand in German. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from obsolete Dutch noorsch, adjective, Norwegian, Scandinavian, alteration of obsolete Dutch noordsch northern, from Dutch noord north; akin to Old English north north

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Norse

• Old Norse
• the Norse

Kids Definition

Norse

noun

ˈnȯ(ə)rs

1

plural Norse

a

: the Scandinavian people

b

: the Norwegian people

2

a

: norwegian sense 2

b

: any of the Scandinavian languages

Norse adjective