tern

¹

[turn]

noun

1. any of numerous aquatic birds of the subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae, related to the gulls but usually having a more slender body and bill, smaller feet, a long, deeply forked tail, and a more graceful flight, especially those of the genus Sterna, as S. hirundo common tern, of Eurasia and America, having white, black, and gray plumage.

tern

²

[turn]

noun

1. a set of three.

2. three winning numbers drawn together in a lottery.

3. a prize won by drawing these.

tern

¹

/ tɜːn /

noun

1. a three-masted schooner

2. rare,  a group of three

tern

²

/ tɜːn /

noun

1. any aquatic bird of the subfamily Sterninae, having a forked tail, long narrow wings, a pointed bill, and a typically black-and-white plumage: family Laridae (gulls, etc), order Charadriiformes

Word History and Origins

Origin of tern¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from Danish terne or Norwegian terna; cognate with Old Norse therna

Origin of tern²

1300–50; Middle English terne < Middle French < Italian terno < Latin ternus, singular of ternī three each, triad, akin to ter thrice; three

Word History and Origins

Origin of tern¹

C14: from Old French terne, from Italian terno, from Latin ternī three each; related to Latin ter thrice, trēs three

Origin of tern²

C18: from Old Norse therna; related to Norwegian terna, Swedish tärna

Example Sentences

Conservation and management of the least Bell’s vireo, California least tern, and western snowy plover have resulted in significant increases to on-base populations of these species, according to the agency.

From Los Angeles Times

You’ll often hear contemporary Democrats give lip service to framing issues in terns of values, and some certainly do so.

From Salon

You may see the California least tern, a protected bird that summers on SoCal beaches and then heads south to Mexico and Central America for the winter.

From Los Angeles Times

The new entries include the Arctic tern, known for its incredible migration, the giant skua, or pirate of the sea, and two types of gull.

From BBC

Infected terns seemed disoriented and unable to fly.

From New York Times

Related Words

• vessel 
• yacht