awn

[ awn ]

noun

, Botany.

1. a bristlelike appendage of a plant, especially on the glumes of grasses.
2. such appendages collectively, as those forming the beard of wheat, barley, etc.
3. any similar bristle.

awn

/ ɔːn /

noun

1. any of the bristles growing from the spikelets of certain grasses, including cereals

awn

/ ôn /

1. A slender, bristlelike appendage found on the spikelets of many grasses.

Derived Forms

• awned, adjective
• ˈawnless, adjective

Other Words From

• awned adjective
• awnless adjective
• un·awned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of awn¹

1250–1300; Middle English aw ( u ) n, agune, agene, probably < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse ǫgn, Old Danish aghn husk; replacing and cognate with Old English ægnan; cognate with Gothic ahana, Old High German agana ( German Agen, Ahne ), Dutch, Frisian agen; OL agna ear of grain, Czech osina awn; Greek ákaina thorn, bristle, ákhnē chaff (< a pre-Hellenic substratum language); < Indo-European *Haeḱ- sharp

Word History and Origins

Origin of awn¹

Old English agen ear of grain; related to Old Norse ögn chaff, Gothic ahana, Old High German agana, Greek akōn javelin

Example Sentences

Umm Sayyaf was the wife of Fathi Ben Awn Ben Jildi Murad al-Tunis, a close friend of Baghdadi’s and veteran of the group who held one of its most important roles at the time of his death.

From The Guardian

“I got plenty light fer possums to see, all right. I aint heard none o dem complainin. Hush, now. Dar he. Whooey. Hum awn, dawg.”

From Literature

“Soon es Quentin need any of yo egvice, I’ll let you know. Y’all g’awn en play in de back, now.”

From Literature

“Y’all kin g’awn en eat,” she said.

From Literature

“Put hit down dar en g’awn back to bed.”

From Literature