sb. and a. Hist. [f. med. or mod.L. Varang-us, ad. med.Gr. Βάραγγος (pl. Βάραγγοι), ad. (through Slavonic languages) ON. Vǽringi (pl. Vǽringjar), app. f. vár- (f. pl. várar) plighted faith.
In the old Russian chronicle of Nestor the name occurs as Variagi and Variazi (pl.), and survives in mod.Russ. варягъ a pedlar, Ruthenian varjah a big strong man.]
A. sb. 1. One of the Scandinavian rovers who in the 9th and 10th centuries overran parts of Russia and reached Constantinople; a Northman (latterly also an Anglo-Saxon) forming one of the bodyguard of the later Byzantine emperors (see B.).
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., lv. V. 561. In their wars against the more inland savages [of Russia], the Varangians condescended to serve as friends and auxiliaries. Ibid., 562. The new Varangians were a colony of English and Danes who fled from the yoke of the Norman conqueror.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., iii. The passengers observed to each other, that the stranger was a Varangian.
1836. Partington’s Brit. Cycl., Lit., etc., III. 501/1. The Varangians, a race of bold pirates who infested the coasts of the Baltic.
1889. Baring-Gould, Grettir, xliii. 379. The company called the Varangians, who acted as a bodyguard to the Emperor.
2. The language spoken by these. rare–1.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., iii. Mustering what few words of Varangian he possessed, which he eked out with Greek.
B. adj. Of or pertaining to the Varangians; composed of Varangians, etc.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., lv. V. 563. The primitive subjects of the Varangian chief.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., xxx. They were to mount on horseback at the sounding of the great Varangian trumpet.
1900. Hector H. Munro, Rise Russ. Empire, ii. 17. The rumours which had reached the North of a Varangian power that had sprung up among the tribes of the Slavic hinterland had attracted thither streams of roving warriors.
b. Varangian Guard, the bodyguard of the Byzantine emperors, formed of Varangians.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., ii. This account of the Varangian Guard is strictly historical.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., XI. 788/2. The valour of the Varangian, or Anglo-Saxon and Danish guards, ever the firmest support of the Byzantine throne.
1889. Baring-Gould, Grettir, xliii. 380. The order came to the Varangian guard that [etc.].
