glen

Where does the word "glen" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic gleann, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Glen’s story begins in Scottish Gaelic: gleann meant “a narrow valley.” A narrow valley, especially in the Scottish Highlands. It reached English by 1500s as glen. Settled as the word for a narrow mountain valley. Today, glen means a narrow valley, especially in Scotland or Ireland.

1. Stage 1 · Scottish Gaelic · medieval gleann "a narrow valley", a narrow valley, especially in the Scottish Highlands.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s glen "a narrow valley", settled as the word for a narrow mountain valley.