baroun
Middle English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Old French baron, from Latin barōnem.
The Old English beorn (“poetic word to denote a man; warrior”), a probable cognate through Proto-Germanic, merged with baroun in Middle English—initially through the forms beren and beron. This likely led to sense three of the Middle English word.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /baˈruːn/, /baˈroːn/, /ˈbarun/
Noun
baroun (plural barounes)
- A lord or noble in general.
- A baron or equivalent rank specifically.
- A hero or honourable individual.
Related terms
Descendants
References
- “barǒun, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 16 March 2018.