wain

[ weyn ]

See synonyms for wain on Thesaurus.com

noun

(initial capital letter)Astronomy. Charles's Wain.
a farm wagon or cart.

Origin of wain

before 900; Middle English; Old English wægn, wǣn, cognate with Dutch wagen,German Wagen.See weigh¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wain in a sentence

Then comes a gang of heavy-laden wains Of carts and wagons, spoiling all our pains.
The Great North Road: London to York | Charles G. Harper
Conveyances are passing along the road at the foot of the hill: huge four-wheeled wains, each drawn by a thin, mangy horse.
'Neath Verdun, August-October, 1914 | Maurice Genevoix
Pegu, and the goods are there landed from the barks, being carried thence to Pegu in carts or wains drawn by oxen.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume VII | Robert Kerr
"Make ready all the horses and yoke the oxen to the wains," she said in a clear voice that would not tremble.
King Olaf's Kinsman | Charles Whistler
Already the wains stood there, the teams of sleepy oxen tossing their long horns in the glare of torches.
King Olaf's Kinsman | Charles Whistler

British Dictionary definitions for wain (1 of 2)

wain

/ (weɪn) /

noun

mainly poetic a farm wagon or cart

Origin of wain

Old English wægn; related to Old Frisian wein, Old Norse vagn

British Dictionary definitions for Wain (2 of 2)

Wain

/ (weɪn) /

noun

John (Barrington). 1925–94, British novelist, poet, and critic. His novels include Hurry on Down (1953), Strike the Father Dead (1962), and Young Shoulders (1982)

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

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