cearcăn

The exact etymology is uncertain, but it was probably derived through a conflation of an inherited form of Latin circinus and a word borrowed directly from Ancient Greek κίρκινος (kírkinos)), reflecting the lack of palatalization on the latter -c-, as well as the irregular diphthongization of the initial -e- which tends to be avoided in masculine words, compare the development of proaspăt with the same irregular diphthongization. It is also possible that the word is an internal derivation from cerc (“circle”) in Romanian.^[1] Compare French cerne.

• Audio:

  (file)

cearcăn n (plural cearcăne)

1. dark ring or circle under the eyes
2. halo
3. (archaic) compass of a cooper
4. (obsolete) circle

• cerc