viking
Medieval Scandinavian seafarer
A viking was a seaborne raid or expedition undertaken by medieval Scandinavians, or the act of going on such a raid: to go a-viking.
The lowercase form emphasizes the activity rather than the people, though this distinction has largely faded in modern usage. (Capitalized Viking refers to the Norse seafarers themselves.)
raiding
Sudden attack for plunder
incursion · expedition · voyage · seafaring
- Plundererslooter, marauder, pillager, plunderer, raider
- ancient warriorsgladiator, spartan, samurai, hoplite, centurion
- combatantssoldier, warrior, fighter, swordsman, spearman
- tough guystough guys, tough guy, thug, thugs, enforcer
- warrior culturesamurai, knights, warrior, gladiators, berserkers
- warriorsfighter, knight, footsoldier, barbarian, samurai
seafaring vs. landlocked
vikinglandlubber
Non-seafaring person
Mongol · farmer · peasant · Hun · desert nomad
- Viking shipNorse seafaring vessel
- Viking mythsScandinavian religious folklore
- Viking raidsScandinavian seaborne plundering expeditions
- viking helmetAncient Norse protective headwear
- Viking funeralBurning the dead afloat
- Viking legendsStories of Scandinavian raiders