cairn

cairn
—cairned, adj. —cairny, adj.
/kairn/, n.
a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, tombstone, etc.
Also, carn.
[1525-35; earlier carn < ScotGael: pile of stones; perh. akin to HORN]

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 a pile of stones that is used as a boundary marker, a memorial, or a burial site. Cairns are usually conical in shape and were often erected on high ground. Burial cairns date primarily from the Neolithic Period and the Early Bronze Age. Cairns are still used in some parts of the world as burial places, particularly where the soil is difficult to excavate or where wild animals might disturb the body. The term cairn is sometimes used interchangeably with barrow, and its usage is not well defined. See also barrow; burial mound.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • cairn — [ kɛrn ] n. m. • 1825; carn 1797; gaélique carn « tas de pierres » 1 ♦ Monticule ou tumulus préhistorique, fait de terre ou de pierres. Cairns d Irlande, du Yémen. 2 ♦ (1860) Pyramide de pierres élevée par des alpinistes, des explorateurs comme… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Cairn — Cairn, n. [Gael. carn, gen. cairn, a heap: cf. Ir. & W. carn.] 1. A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument. [1913 Webster] Now here let us place the gray stone of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cairn — cairn; cairn·gorm; …   English syllables

  • cairn's — cairn s; Cairn s; …   English syllables

  • cairn — ► NOUN 1) a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark. 2) (also cairn terrier) a small breed of terrier with a shaggy coat. ORIGIN Scottish Gaelic carn …   English terms dictionary

  • Cairn — (spr. kǟrn, Carn), megalithische Denkmäler in England mit einem platten Stein auf der Spitze, stammen aus der Steinzeit und wahrscheinlich von der vorkeltischen Urbevölkerung. Vgl. Steinhaufen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Cairn — oder Carn (spr. kährn), megalithische Denkmäler, bes. der Steinzeit in England …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • cairn — index landmark (conspicuous object), monument Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Cairn —   [ keən, englisch, aus gälisch carn] der, s/ s, Vorgeschichte: Barrow.   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • cairn — s.m.inv. ES ingl. {{wmetafile0}} 1. TS paletnol. monumento sepolcrale formato da un mucchio di pietre disposte a piramide o a cupola, caratteristico di alcune culture preistoriche delle isole Britanniche 2. BU estens., in epoca moderna, cumulo di …   Dizionario italiano

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