yean

Meaning

Verb

• To give birth to.

Origin

• From Middle English *yenen, *ȝenen, eanen, from Old English *ġeēanian, ēanian (for the prefixed form, compare Old English ġeēan, ġeēane), from Proto-West Germanic *gaaunōn, *aunōn, from *aunōną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂egʷnós ("lamb"). Cognate with Scots yean ("to yean"), Saterland Frisian bejänne ("to produce; show signs of calving"), West Frisian antsje, eandsje, inje, Dutch onen ("to yean"), Swedish öna ("to yean"). Akin also to Latin agnus, Ancient Greek ἀμνός, Old Irish úan ("lamb"). See also ean.