English Explanatory Dictionary

awn

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The bristle or beard of barley, oats, grasses, etc., or any similar bristlelike appendage; arista.

Pronunciation

/ɔːn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-awn.wav

Word forms

awn awns

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English aw(u)ne, agune, from Old Norse ǫgn (compare Danish avne), from Proto-Germanic *aganō, *ahanō (“chaff”) (compare Old English agnu, Dutch agen, German Ahne, Agen), from Proto-Indo-European *aḱanā (compare Latin agna (“ear of wheat”), Lithuanian ašni̇̀s (“edge, blade”), Czech osina, Ancient Greek ἄκαινα (ákaina, “spike, prick”), ἄκανος (ákanos, “pine-thistle”), Sanskrit अशनि (aśáni, “thunderbolt, arrow tip”)), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”). More at edge.

Derived words

awned awner awnless awnlet awnlike awny purple three-awn grass threeawn
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