German

Noun

Hirn n ‎(genitive Hirns or Hirnes, plural Hirne)

1. (countable) brain (organ)

   Das Hirn ist die Schaltzentrale im menschlichen Körper.

   The brain is the control centre of the human body.

2. (uncountable) brain (meat)

   In Europa wird kaum noch Hirn gegessen.

   Not much brain meat is eaten anymore in Europe.

Synonyms

• (organ): Gehirn
• (meat): Bregen (regional)

Derived terms

English

Noun

hirn ‎(plural hirns)

1. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Corner; nook; hiding-place

Scots

Alternative forms

• hirne, hyrn, hyrne

Etymology

From Middle English hirne, from Old English hyrne ‎(“horn, corner, angle”), from Proto-Germanic *hurnijǭ ‎(“horn, corner, angle”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱera(w)-, *ḱrū- ‎(“horn”). Cognate with Old Frisian herne ‎(“horn, corner, angle”), Norwegian hyrna ‎(“corner”), Icelandic hyrna ‎(“point of an axehead, mountain peak”). More at horn.

Noun

hirn ‎(plural hirns)

1. corner; nook

   To ilka hirn he takes his rout / And gangs just stavering about / In quest o'prey. — C. Keith.

2. a hiding-place

Usage notes

• Usually plural

Derived terms

• hirnek