tarn

¹

[ tahrn ]

noun

1. a small mountain lake or pool, especially one in a cirque.

Tarn

²

[ tarn ]

noun

1. a department in S France. 2,232 sq. mi. (5,780 sq. km). : Albi.

Tarn

¹

/ tarn /

noun

1. a department of S France, in Midi-Pyrénées region. Capital: Albi. Pop: 350 477 (2003 est). Area: 5780 sq km (2254 sq miles)
2. a river in SW France, rising in the Massif Central and flowing generally west to the Garonne River. Length: 375 km (233 miles)

tarn

²

/ tɑːn /

noun

1. a small mountain lake or pool

tarn

/ tärn /

1. A small mountain lake, especially one formed as a glacier melts, filling a cirque with water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarn¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English terne, tarne, from Old Norse tjǫrn “pond, pool.” Tarn was originally restricted to northern English dialects (where the Danes settled) or in written works about northern England. Tarn entered mainstream English in the works of the Lake Poets ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarn¹

C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse tjörn pool

Example Sentences

For expansive views of rolling, emerald hillsides speckled with the occasional sapphire tarn, add Northern England’s Lake District to your bucket list.

From Outside Online

They are as safe in their tarn as those enchanted fish of the “Arabian Nights.”

From Project Gutenberg

One evening in August, a warm, still evening, I happened to visit the tarn.

From Project Gutenberg

Tarn (a mountain pool), grain and sike (mountain streams) are also Scandinavian terms.

From Project Gutenberg

Just under the moorland heights surrounding Malham Tarn is the other village of Malham.

From Project Gutenberg

The Indians represent them to have a deep tarn, with very imposing perpendicular walls, at one of the highest points.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basin
• cistern
• container
• lake
• pond
• pool
• reserve
• source
• stockpile
• storage
• supply
• tank