View synonyms for cairn

cairn

[ kairn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

cairn

/ kɛən /

a mound of stones erected as a memorial or marker
Also calledcairn terrier a small rough-haired breed of terrier originally from Scotland

Origin of cairn¹

First recorded in 1525–35; earlier carn, from Scots Gaelic: “pile of stones”; perhaps akin to horn

Origin of cairn¹

C15: from Gaelic carn

On his left hand and behind him lay the rich belt of woodland that marked the courses of the rivers Cluden and Cairn.

His Grace sent Castalia a beautiful wedding present: a cairn-gorm, set in solid silver.

And now, behold, I break open the piled stones of your cairn, and I let in the noon between your ribs.

My experience was such by this time that I saw at a glance this cairn was not the work of a native.

We can go no further till we find an unrifled cairn burial answering to Homeric descriptions.

Browse