English

Proper noun

Ern

1. A diminutive of the male given name Ernest.
   • Enid Blyton, The Mystery of the Hidden House

     'That's a good one, that is!' said Ern.

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɜːn/
• (US) enPR: ûrn, IPA^(key): /ɝn/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)n
• Homophones: earn, erne, urn

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. (Britain dialectal) To run; flow.
2. (Britain 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. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) To pain; torture.
3. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) (of the eyes) To cause to water; smart.

Related terms

• erme

Anagrams

• ner
• ren

Icelandic

Adjective

ern ‎(comparative ernari, superlative ernastur)

1. brisk, active

Declension