pirn

• pern

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

• IPA^(key): /pɜː(ɹ)n/

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)n

pirn (plural pirns)

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.

pirn (third-person singular simple present pirns, present participle pirning, simple past and past participle pirned)

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

• Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “prin”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• prin

From German Birne.

pirn (genitive pirni, partitive pirni)

1. pear (fruit)
2. light bulb

• pirnipuu