pirn

P3I1R1N1
/pɜː(ɹ)n/

noun

A cone-shaped spool or bobbin on which thread or yarn is wound, used most often for weaving.

OriginOld English preon ← Proto-Germanic *preunaz →
UncommonScrabble 6
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Meanings

nounpirn (plural pirns)

plural pirns · alternative pern

  1. A cone-shaped spool or bobbin on which thread or yarn is wound, used most often for weaving.
  2. The amount of thread wound on a shuttle or reel.
  3. dialectalA trouble or difficulty deliberately created.

    "What'll we do with the wee deil?" said she. "I'll work it a pirn," replied the lass.

    1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 167
verbpirn (third-person singular simple present pirns, present participle pirning, simple past and past participle pirned)

present singular third person pirns · participle present pirning · participle past pirned · past pirned · alternative pern

  1. transitiveTo wind (yarn) onto a pirn, usually by means of a pirn winder.

Origin

  1. Proto-Germanic*preunaz“knitting needle”
  2. Old Englishpreon
  3. Englishpirn

Perhaps from prin (“twig, shoot”), variant of prene (“spike, nail”), from Old English preon, from Proto-Germanic *preunaz (“knitting needle”).

More words from Old English, Proto-Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with pirn

returnlearnconcernearnburnsternkernfernurnBernadjourndiscernchurnternernnocturneyearnAuvergneupturnpernderngernhernastern
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

pirn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pirn

MLA

“pirn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pirn. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pirn,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pirn.

Source: pirn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.