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

This awn is sensitive to changes in the moisture of the air.

From Project Gutenberg

"You go awn and start something—and you'll wisht you hadn't," they heard him croak from the big gate, and chuckled over his wrath.

From Project Gutenberg

Go awn and tell him a good, stiff lie, Andy—just to keep him interested while us fellers make a gitaway.

From Project Gutenberg

She used to say, "Lawd, chile, you don't know how soovin' it is to jest bust out awn 'casions lake dese!"

From Project Gutenberg

Seeds of hermaphrodite flowers quadrangular, crowned by one long awn, and the rudiment of another.

From Project Gutenberg