Harn

/hɑːrn/ noun

Definition

Dialectal or archaic term for a corner, nook, or hidden place; in some dialects, a harness or breastplate.

Etymology

From Old English hearne or herne, related to 'corner' or 'nook,' with possible connections to Old Norse or Middle Low German words for corner or angle. The meaning has shifted and become archaic in most English dialects.

Kelly Says

Harn is one of those words that shows how English dialects preserve ancient vocabulary—this word for 'corner' basically disappeared from standard English but stuck around in regional speech, which is why historical texts and dialect researchers can recover lost vocabulary.

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