kirn

¹ American  

[kurn, kirn] / kɜrn, kɪrn /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to churn.

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noun

1. a churn.

kirn ² American  

[kurn, kirn] / kɜrn, kɪrn /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. a harvest celebration; a feast or party celebrating a successful harvest.

2. the harvesting of the last handful of oats, wheat, or other grain, noting either the end of the harvest season or the winning of a race against other reapers.

3. the last handful of oats, wheat, or other grain that is gathered in the harvest.

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Etymology

Origin of kirn¹

1300–50; Middle English kirne (noun) < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse kirnuaskr a churn; cognate with churn

Origin of kirn²

First recorded in 1770–80; origin uncertain; perhaps akin to corn ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kirn

In Arco's example of an artificial-language, plurals end in s, numerals must follow nouns and kirn, kima, kime, kimi mean who, whose, to whom, and whom.

From Time Magazine Archive

Havin gone into the room where the kirn was, he lifted the large stone by which the lid was kept down, and placed it on the floor.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 13 by Various

James turned round, and, with a smile that was gradually acquiring breadth, said that he was "thinkin aboot Tam Brodie and the kirn."

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 13 by Various

"And here," said the narrator, "ends my story o' Tam Brodie and the kirn."

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 13 by Various

She had just filled her kirn, and there was still some cream standing in the bottom of her cream jar.

From The Scottish Fairy Book by Elizabeth Wilson Grierson

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