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Where does the word "tarn" come from? It comes from Old Norse tjörn, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "tarn" come from? It comes from Old Norse tjörn, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Tarn’s story begins in Old Norse: tjörn meant “a small mountain lake.” A small mountain lake or pool. It reached English by 1300s as tarn. Settled as the English word for a small mountain lake, especially in northern England. Today, tarn means a small mountain lake, especially one formed by a glacier.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval tjörn "a small mountain lake", a small mountain lake or pool.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s tarn "a small mountain lake", settled as the English word for a small mountain lake, especially in northern England.