ern

See also ERN

English

Etymology 1

Alteration of erne

Noun

ern (plural erns)

1. Alternative spelling of erne.

Etymology 2

From Middle English ernen, from Old English irnan, iernan (“to run, move quickly”), metathetic variant of rinnan (“to run”). More at run.

Alternative forms

• earn (Scotland)

Verb

ern (third-person singular simple present erns, present participle erning, simple past and past participle erned)

1. (UK dialectal) To run; flow.
2. (UK dialectal, Scotland) To (cause to) coagulate; curdle (milk) by adding rennet and applying heat.

Etymology 3

Of obscure origin. Perhaps an alteration of erme, from Middle English ermen, from Old English yrman, ierman. Compare also Old Scots urn, uren. More at erme.

Verb

ern (third-person singular simple present erns, present participle erning, simple past and past participle erned)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To stir with strong emotion; grieve; mourn.
2. (UK dialectal, Scotland) To pain; torture.
3. (UK dialectal, Scotland) (of the eyes) To cause to water; smart.

Related terms

• erme

Anagrams

• ner
• ren