Saturday, 12 November 2022

The word 'keen' originally came from Gaelic as 'caoinim'

'Keen' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'caoinim'. The word entered the English language some time around 1845.


keen [verb] [1845]
  • to make a loud and long cry of sorrow
  • to lament with a keen
  • to make a sound suggestive of a loud cry of sorrow
  • to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
  • to utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry
See 'keen' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Gaelic.

Etymology: Irish 'caoinim' I lament, weep
See more loan words from 1800s.


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