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  • erne
    erne
    noun
  • Erne
    Erne
    noun
    a river in N central Republic of Ireland, rising in County Cavan and flowing north across the border, through Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne and then west to Donegal Bay. Length: about 96 km (60 miles)

erne

American  
[urn] / ɜrn /
Or ern

noun

  1. sea eagle.


Erne 1 British  
/ ɜːn /

noun

  1. a river in N central Republic of Ireland, rising in County Cavan and flowing north across the border, through Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne and then west to Donegal Bay. Length: about 96 km (60 miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

erne 2 British  
/ ɜːn /

noun

  1. another name for the (European) sea eagle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of erne

before 1000; Middle English ern, arn, Old English earn; cognate with Old High German arn ( German Aar ), Middle Low German arn ( e ); akin to Lithuanian erẽlis eagle, Greek órnīs bird

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.

See Examples For:

Then rose a cry as round and round the ravens wheeled in air, The erne all greedy for his prey.

From Our Catholic Heritage in English Literature of Pre-Conquest Days by Hickey, Emily

Then, facing the staring ex-servicemen: "Tetlathi mater erne kai anaskeo ko-omeneper!"

From They Call Me Carpenter by Sinclair, Upton

And this was terrible, that over the host wheeled erne and raven and kite, as knowing to what feast the flapping of yon Raven banner called them.

From Wulfric the Weapon Thane by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

Although they are not larger than a pigeon, they are not afraid to lay siege to an erne or a glaucus gull, and they will often do so as much for amusement as for gain.

From Viking Boys by Saxby, Jessie Margaret Edmondston

Up that creek we ran, or rather paddled, therefore, knee deep in mud, but quite unseen by any but the great erne that fled over us crying.

From A Thane of Wessex by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

Eels caught in Lower Lough Erne as part of a continuing trap and transport programme could be part of the species' salvation.

From BBC Aug. 30, 2025

Draisaitl put Edmonton ahead with his 14th at 2:22 before Erne made it 5-3 with his first goal for the Oilers at 2:49.

From Washington Times Dec. 22, 2023

But Erne received only a two-minute minor penalty, though the NHL further punished him Thursday by levying the highest fine possible under the collective bargaining agreement.

From Seattle Times Nov. 16, 2023

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was elbowed dangerously in the head by Adam Erne at roughly the 11-minute mark of the third.

From Seattle Times Nov. 16, 2023

If it had proportionately as many islands in it as Loch Erne, it would be one of the fairest sheets of water of its size in Ireland.

From Beauties and Antiquities of Ireland by Russell, T. O.

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