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. 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

tern

²

/ tɜːn /

noun

1. a three-masted schooner
2. rare.
   a group of three

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

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

Origin of tern²

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

Example Sentences

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

The polar bears pop up from their winter lairs, the arctic tern soar back from their long journey south and the musk oxen wade north.

From Science Daily

Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, monitor the effect of the blasts on such animals as sea otters, bats, western snowy plovers, California least terns and California red-legged frogs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• vessel
• yacht