bawn

[ bawn ]

noun

, Newfoundland.

1. a rocky stretch of foreshore on which caught fish are laid out to dry.
2. a patch of grassland or meadow near a dwelling.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bawn¹

First recorded in 1530–40; Hiberno-English, from Irish bábhún (earlier spelling badhbhdhún, badhún ) “enclosure,” perhaps equivalent to ba, plural of bó “cow” + dún “fort”; cow ¹, town

Example Sentences

A prolific Irish dramatist who would go on to write upward of 150 plays and adaptations, Boucicault has found a supportive, pocket-size home at the Irish Rep, which has previously staged a pair of his Irish plays, “The Shaughraun” and “The Colleen Bawn,” and one of his melodramas, “The Streets of New York.”

From New York Times

One paper by Kathleen Bawn and Frances Rosenbluth, both political scientists, looked at public-sector expenditure across 17 European countries from 1970 to 1998.

From Economist

He also made handrails for the Bellaghy Bawn - the area that was home to poet Seamus Heaney who composed a famous poem about a forge.

From BBC

"Our year nine pupils are participating in a collaborative project between the IT and history departments, constructing and labelling a plantation bawn from the early 17th century using Minecraft," Mr Currie said.

From BBC

Heah you got uh prop tuh lean on all yo’ bawn days, and big protection, and everybody got tuh tip dey hat tuh you and call you Mis’ Killicks, and you come worryin’ me ’bout love.”

From Literature