What does Viking mean?

Answer 1

Viking, as strictly Scandinavian pirate, 1807, vikingr; modern spelling attested from 1840. The word is a historical revival; it was not used in Middle English, but it was revived from Old Norse vikingr, which usually is explained as propound "one who came from the fjords," from vik "creek, inlet" (Old English wic, Middle High German wich "bay," and second element in Reykjavik). But Old English wicing and Old Frisian wizing are almost 300 years older, and probably derive from wic "village, camp" (temporary camps were a feature of the Viking raids), related to Latinate vicus"village, habitation" The connection between the Old Norse and Old English words is still much debated. The period of Viking activity was roughly 8th cent. to 11th cent. 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.

Answer 2

It comes from the term "a viking", which means to go raiding.