dun

dun · noun, adjective¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*dʰews-
2. Proto-Celtic · derived from*dusnos
3. Brythonic · derived from
4. Proto-Indo-European · inherited from*dʰewh₂-“to smoke, raise dust”
5. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*duznaz
6. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*duʀn
7. Old English · inherited fromdunn“dun, dingy brown, bark-colored, brownish black”
8. Middle English · inherited fromdun
9. English todaydun

From Middle English dun, donn, dunne, from Old English dunn (“dun, dingy brown, bark-colored, brownish black”), from Proto-West Germanic *duʀn, from Proto-Germanic *duznaz, *dusnaz (“brown, yellow”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to smoke, raise dust”). Cognate with Old Saxon dun (“brown, dark”), Old High German tusin (“ash-gray, dull brown, pale yellow, dark”), Old Norse dunna (“female mallard; duck”). Alternative etymology derives the Old English word from Brythonic (compare Middle Welsh dwnn (“dark (red)”)), from Proto-Celtic *dusnos (compare Old Irish donn and Scottish Gaelic donn (“brown”)), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰews- (compare Old Saxon dosan (“chestnut brown”)). More at dusk.

dun · noun, verb²

Unknown; perhaps a variant of din. Several sources suggest origin from Joe Dun, the name of a bailiff known for arresting debtors, but this is controversial.

dun · noun³

Uncertain; likely from the color.

dun · noun⁴

1. Proto-Celtic · derived from*dūnom“fortress”
2. Scottish Gaelic · borrowed fromdùn
3. Irish · borrowed fromdún
4. English todaydun

From Irish dún or Scottish Gaelic dùn, from Proto-Celtic *dūnom (“fortress”). Cognate with Welsh dinas (“city”). Doublet of town.

dun · verb⁵

See do.

dun · verb⁶

Likely from the color of fish so prepared.

dun · noun⁷

See dune.

dun · interjection⁸

Imitative.

dun · noun⁹

1. Hindustani · borrowed from
2. English todaydun

Borrowed from Hindustani दून (dūn) / دُون (dūn). False cognate of dun (sense 4) / doon, and dun (sense 7) / dune

Dun · proper noun¹⁰

1. Scottish Gaelic · derived fromdùn“fortress”
2. English todayDun

* As a Scottish surname, from the placename Dun, Angus, itself probably from Scottish Gaelic dùn (“fortress”). * As an English surname, variant of Dunn. * As a Dutch surname, from the adjective dun (“thin”). * As a Chinese surname, Mandarin form of surname 頓 /顿 meaning "pause" or 敦 meaning "sincere."

DUN · noun¹¹

1. Malay · borrowed fromDUN
2. English todayDUN

Borrowed from Malay DUN.

Words from the same roots