English
awn
Awn comes from Proto-Germanic *aganō ‘chaff’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *aḱanā.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*aḱanāreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aganō‘chaff’reconstructed
- Old Norsec. 800–1350ǫgn
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aw(u)ne
- Englishearliest quotation 1909awn
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*aḱanāreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aganō‘chaff’reconstructed
- Old Norsec. 800–1350ǫgn
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aw(u)ne
- Englishearliest quotation 1909awn
Earliest quotation: 1909, William Hutchinson, Handbook of Grasses: “In one exotic genus, Aristida, the awn is compound,…”
Every English word from Proto-Indo-European *aḱanā
Today it means
noun The bristle or beard of barley, oats, grasses, etc., or any similar bristlelike appendage; arista.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *aḱanā / awn