rowan

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Sorbus aucuparia, the European rowan.
  2. Any of various small deciduous trees or shrubs of genus Sorbus, belonging to the rose family, with pinnate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and usually with orange-red berries.
  3. wych-elm, Ulmus glabra.
noun
  1. Alternative form of rowen (“aftermath”).
noun
  1. Dated form of roving (“an elongate bundle of fiber”).
noun
  1. Alternative form of rown (“fish-eggs”).
name
  1. A surname from Irish.
  2. A male given name from Irish.
  3. A unisex given name from English of modern usage, often associated with the rowan tree.
  4. A locality in the Wagga Wagga council area, southern New South Wales, Australia.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹəʊ.ən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-rowan.wav /ˈɹaʊ.ən/ /ˈɹoʊ.ən/ /ɹəʊən/ /ɹoʊən/

Word forms

rowan rowans roan

Etymology

Originally Scots and northern English, from Middle English ron, rone, compare also Northern English raan, ran. At first referring to its fruits, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse reynir. Also related to Norwegian Bokmål rogn, Danish røn. Ultimately related to the root of red.

Related words

Sorbus subg. Sorbus
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