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girn

1 American  
[gurn] / gɜrn /

verb (used with or without object)

Scot.
  1. grin.


girn 2 American  
[gurn] / gɜrn /

noun

Scot.
  1. grin.


girn British  
/ ɡɜːn, ɡərn /

verb

  1. to snarl

  2. to grimace; pull grotesque faces

  3. to complain fretfully or peevishly

"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 girn

C14: a variant of grin

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.

Can He no shift it frae the tae airm to the tither, but the bairn maun girn?

From The Elect Lady by MacDonald, George

And whoso, having warnèd been,    Refuseth still to turn, Behind his shadow, shrunken mean, A poring spectre shall be seen    With livid stare and girn.

From My Beautiful Lady. Nelly Dale by Morley, Henry

Mr Hickery rose to offer some apology; but, perceiving I had now got him in a girn, I interposed my authority, and would not permit him to proceed.

From The Provost by Galt, John

What gies him that side-look, that fearfu girn, an' his slouchin walk!

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Vol. XX by Leighton, Alexander

He can girn a laugh as well ’s onybody at a raight divil’s jest. 

From Wuthering Heights by Brontë, Emily

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