Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

yean

 - 3 dictionary results

yean

  [yeen]
Use yean in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
(of a sheep or goat) to bring forth young.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME yenen, prob. continuing OE *geēanian to bring forth young, equiv. to ge- y- + ēanian to yean, akin to L agnus, Gk ámnos lamb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To yean
yean   (yēn)   
v.   yeaned, yean·ing, yeans

v.   intr.
To bear young. Used of sheep and goats.
v.   tr.
To give birth to; bear. Used of sheep and goats.

[Middle English iyenen, yenen, from Old English *geēanian : ge-, verb pref.; see kom in Indo-European roots + ēanian, to bear young.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

yean 
O.E. eanian "to bring forth" (young), especially in ref. to sheep or goats, from P.Gmc. *agwnojanan (cf. Du. oonen), perhaps from PIE *agwhnos "lamb" (cf. Gk. amnos "lamb," L. agnus, O.C.S. agne, O.Ir. van, Welsh oen). Yeanling "young lamb, kid" is recorded from 1637.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see yean on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way