yarn

yarn
yarn (n.) O.E. gearn "spun fiber," from P.Gmc. *garnan (Cf. O.N., O.H.G., Ger. garn, M.Du. gaern, Du. garen "yarn"), from PIE root *ghere- "intestine, gut, entrail" (Cf. O.N. gorn "gut," Skt. hira "vein; entrails," L. hernia "rupture," Gk. khorde "intestine, gut-string," Lith. zarna "gut"). The phrase to spin a yarn "to tell a story" is first attested 1812, from a sailors' expression, on notion of telling stories while engaged in sedentary work such as yarn-twisting.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • yarn — [yärn] n. [ME < OE gearn, yarn, akin to Ger garn < IE base * g̑her , intestine > L haru spex, soothsayer, lit., intestine seer, Gr chordē] 1. any fiber, as wool, silk, flax, cotton, nylon, glass, etc., spun into strands for weaving,… …   English World dictionary

  • Yarn — Yarn, n. [OE. yarn, [yogh]arn, AS. gearn; akin to D. garen, G., OHG., Icel., Sw., & Dan. garn; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Cord}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Spun wool; woolen thread; also, thread of other material, as of cotton, flax, hemp, or silk;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Yarn — bezeichnet eine anglo amerikanische literarische Untergattung, die sich mit Seemannsgarn, urbaner Legende und Kurzgeschichte vergleichen lässt. Auch die teilweise veraltete Redeweise vom Garn spinnen gehört in diese Thematik. Das Yarn ist eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • yarn — [ jarn ] noun * 1. ) uncount cotton, wool, or other fibers in the form of thick THREAD (=a substance like string): a ball of yarn 2. ) count INFORMAL a long story with a lot of exciting details spin (someone) a yarn to give someone a long… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • yarn — [ja:n US ja:rn] n [: Old English; Origin: gearn] 1.) [U] thick thread made of cotton or wool, which is used to ↑knit things 2.) informal a story of adventures, travels etc, usually made more exciting and interesting by adding things that never… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • yarn — yarn·er; yarn; …   English syllables

  • yarn — [n1] fiber for knitting cotton fiber, flaxen thread, fleece, spun wool, thread, twist, wool; concept 473 yarn [n2] story, often long and made up adventure, alibi, anecdote, fable, fabrication, fairy tale, lie, line, narrative, potboiler*, prose,… …   New thesaurus

  • yarn — ► NOUN 1) spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing. 2) informal a long or rambling story. ► VERB informal ▪ tell a yarn. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • yarn — index myth Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • yarn — tale, *story, narrative, anecdote …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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