English
groyne
Groyne comes from Middle English groyn ‘snout’, from Latin grunniō ‘grunt like a pig’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gru-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gru-reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrunniōas grunnire‘grunt like a pig’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEgrunium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400groign
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500groyn‘snout’
- Englishearliest quotation 1959groyne
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gru-reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrunniōas grunnire‘grunt like a pig’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEgrunium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400groign
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500groyn‘snout’
- Englishearliest quotation 1959groyne
Earliest quotation: 1959, Notes and News: Reconstruction of Sea Wall near Abergele: “Old rail and timber groynes will be erected along…”
Linked words
through Latin grunniō ‘grunt like a pig’
Today it means
noun An often wooden structure that projects from a coastline to prevent erosion, longshore drift etc.; a breakwater.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gru- / groyne