Scandinavian pirate, 1807,
vikingr; modern spelling attested from 1840. The word is a historical revival; it was not used in M.E., but it was revived from O.N.
vikingr, which usually is explained as prop. "one who came from the fjords," from
vik "creek, inlet" (cf. O.E.
wic, M.H.G.
wich "bay," and second element in
Reykjavik). But O.E.
wicing and O.Fris.
wizing are almost 300 years older, and probably derive from
wic "village, camp" (temporary camps were a feature of the Viking raids), related to L.
vicus "village, habitation" (see
villa). The connection between the O.N. and O.E. words is still much debated. The period of Viking activity was roughly 8c. to 11c. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the raiding armies generally were referred to as
þa Deniscan "the Danes," while those who settled in England were identified by their place of settlement.
[vahy-king] 
)