grayn

Middle English

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *grainiz

Old Norse greinbor.

Middle English grayn

Borrowed from Old Norse grein, from Proto-Germanic *grainiz.

Alternative forms

• greyn, grayne

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡræi̯n/

Noun

grayn (plural graynes)

1. (rare) A forking channel or pass; a fjord or estuary.
2. (rare) The part of the body between one's legs.
3. (rare) A point or sharp end.
4. (rare) A component or portion of something.
5. (rare) A branch or twig.

Descendants

• English: grain
• Scots: grain, grane, grayne, graine

References

• “grein, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 8 July 2018.

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ǵerh₂-

Proto-Indo-European *-nós

Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nósnom.

Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm

Proto-Italic *grānom

Latin grānum

Old French grainbor.

Middle English greyn

Middle English grayn

Noun

grayn

1. alternative form of greyn (“grain”)

Scots

Noun

grayn (plural grayns)

1. branch
   • 1513, Gavin Douglas, Eneados (in English):

     Hys helm of ſteil beſyde hym hang weil ne
     Apon a grayn or branch of a grene tre