girn
1 Americanverb (used with or without object)
noun
verb
-
to snarl
-
to grimace; pull grotesque faces
-
to complain fretfully or peevishly
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.
The auld folk are crouse, and they craw That their putting is pawky and slee; In a bunker they're nae gude ava', But to girn, and to gar the sand flee.
From Ballads in Blue China by Andrew Lang
She'll come to hell efter me to girn at me, an' set them on me wi' their reid het taings, and curse me.
From Robert Falconer by George MacDonald
"That's some o' Robbie Boath's wark," he says in laich till himsel', wi' an awfu' girn on his face.
From My Man Sandy by J. B. Salmond
"Ye needn't girn that away, Jane Browst," whispered Aunt Perrine, emphatically.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 60, October, 1862 by Various
To "girn in a widdy" is to laugh or girn when a halter is round the neck—meaning that it is no joke to be placed in a difficult or dangerous position.
From The Proverbs of Scotland by Alexander Hislop
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
