ern

Meanings

Noun

• Alternate spelling of erne

Verb

• To run; flow.
• To (cause to) coagulate; curdle (milk) by adding rennet and applying heat.
• To stir with strong emotion; grieve; mourn.
• To pain; torture.
• To cause to water; smart.

Origin

• Alteration of erne.
• From Middle English ernen, from Old English irnan, iernan, metathetic variant of rinnan. More at run.
• Of obscure origin. Perhaps an alteration of erme, from Middle English ermen, from Old English yrman, ierman. Compare also Old Scots urn, uren. More at erme.