groyn
Middle English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Old French groign (French groin), from Late Latin grunium, grunia. The variation in pronunciation probably reflects variation in Old French and in methods of adapting Old French phonemes.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɡrui̯n/, /ˈɡruːn/, /ˈɡriu̯n/, /ˈɡriːn/
- (Northern) IPA(key): /ˈɡruːɳ(ə)/
Noun
groyn (plural groynes)
- A pig or hog's snout.
- A pig snout served as food.
- Complaining, criticism, reprimanding.
- (rare) A nose (usually an unsightly one).
- (rare) The trunk of an elephant.
- (rare) The head of a military force.
Related terms
Descendants
References
- “groin, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 25 February 2019.
- “groin, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 25 February 2019.