Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • See kern.
  • Same as kern for churn.
  • In mining, to bore with a hand-jumper or kirner.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word kirn.

Examples

  • In some parts of Scotland, as well as in the north of England, the last handful of corn cut on the harvest-field was called the kirn, and the person who carried it off was said "to win the kirn."

    The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion 1922

  • In some parts of Scotland, as well as in the north of England, the last handful of corn cut on the harvest-field was called the kirn, and the person who carried it off was said “to win the kirn.

    Chapter 45. The Corn-Mother and the Corn-Maiden in Northern Europe 1922

  • At length the harvest was finished; or, as the phrase of the district was, clyack was gotten -- a phrase with the derivation, or even the exact meaning of which, I am unacquainted; knowing only that it implies something in close association with the feast of harvest-home, called the kirn in other parts of Scotland.

    David Elginbrod George MacDonald 1864

  • By dint of assiduous research I am enabled to certiorate the reader, that the name of this person was Saunders Broadfoot, and that he dealt in the wholesome commodity called kirn-milk (_Anglic, _ butter-milk).

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian 1822

  • * By dint of assiduous research I am enabled to certiorate the reader, that the name of this person was Saunders Broadfoot, and that he dealt in the wholesome commodity called kirn-milk (_Anglice ', _ butter-milk).

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Complete Walter Scott 1801

  • In some parts of Scotland, as well as in the north of England, the last handful of corn cut on the harvest-field was called the kirn, and the person who carried it off was said “to win the kirn.”

    The Golden Bough : a study of magic and religion 1583

  • By dint of assiduous research I am enabled to certiorate the reader, that the name of this person was Saunders Broadfoot, and that he dealt in the wholesome commodity called kirn-milk (Anglice’, butter-milk). —

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian 2007

  • 'kirn' is due to the fact that a churnful of cream is a feature of the night's entertainment.

    Marmion Walter Scott 1801

  • He is going to be in real deep kirn chee when word of this gets back to Admin.

    Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows Lackey, Mercedes 1990

  • "This is where the kirn starts," and looking over my shoulder as I ran

    The McBrides A Romance of Arran John Sillars

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.