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

Growth is the watchword as the filmmakers also weave in stories (well, folktales) from Norwegian traditions concerned with the Norns, a trio of Norse deities believed to be responsible for the shaping of human destiny and tasked with caring for Yggdrasill, the tree at the center of everything. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025

Frida Origin: Frida is of Old Norse and Germanic origin. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2025

The country’s links to the island—home to fewer than 60,000 people, most of whom are Inuit—stretch back centuries: Norse settlers arrived in the territory over a millennium ago before eventually disappearing, and Denmark began colonizing the island in the 1700s. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Orkney is full of Norse names, and every map is a poem: Bay of Skaill, Water of the Wicks, Candle of the Sneuk. —Peter Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

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