bawn

American  

[bawn] / bɔn /

noun

Newfoundland.

1. a rocky stretch of foreshore on which caught fish are laid out to dry.

2. a patch of grassland or meadow near a dwelling.

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Etymology

Origin of bawn

First recorded in 1530–40; Hiberno-English, from Irish bábhún (earlier spelling badhbhdhún, badhún ) “enclosure,” perhaps equivalent to ba, plural of bó “cow” + dún “fort”; see cow ¹, town

Example Sentences

Exall may look lak one-half of a baby-elephant runnin' loose, but lemme tell you, suh, he ain't nobody's bawn fool.

From J. Poindexter, Colored by Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury)

I was bawn on Governor Reuben Chapman's place five miles north of Livingston on May 14, 1843.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume I, Alabama Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration

At last he lifted his eyes, and there he was outside of a smith’s bawn gate that he had often passed before, about a mile away from the palace of his betrothed princess.

From The Irish Fairy Book by Various

All dis happen in Sumter County whar I was bawn.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume I, Alabama Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration

Twine the mazes thro’ and thro’ Over beach and margent pale; Not a bawn appears in view, Not a sail!

From The Mountainy Singer by MacCathmhaoil, Seosamh