bawn
Americannoun
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a rocky stretch of foreshore on which caught fish are laid out to dry.
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a patch of grassland or meadow near a dwelling.
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since I hez been an 'oman ebry baby bawn in dis hous' hez cum in ter dese arms fust.
From Unfettered A Novel by Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)
Bred an' bawn in Sumter County, wore out in Sumter County, 'specks to die in Sumter County, an' whut is I got?
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
Like "Brer Rabbit" the catbird is usually "bred and bawn in a brier patch."
From Birds Every Child Should Know by Blanchan, Neltje
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
Nebber struck nuffin’ lek dis in all mah bawn days—no, sar!”
From Frank Merriwell's Alarm Doing His Best by Standish, Burt L.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
