cairn
cairn
Definition
cairn (kern)
noun
a conical heap of stones built as a monument or landmark
Etymology: Scot < Gael carn, an elevation < IE base *ker-n-, highest part of the body, horn, hence tip, peak > L cornu, horn, extremity, summit
cairned adjective
cairn
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- chamber: In the center of the ring are the remains of a chambered cairn.
- erect: Recently, I caught wind of a charity group planning to erect a new memorial cairn on the summit.
- build: Many had cairns built around them in the Bronze Age or had human remains deposited in their crevices.
Converse of subject
- mark: The site is marked by a memorial cairn on the west side of the road.
Adjective modifier
- Neolithic: A Neolithic burial cairn can be found south of Strone farm.
- prehistoric: The remains of prehistoric cairns, ancient raths, souterrains and medieval mottes are all visible across the landscape.
- circular: Often, there is a low circular burial cairn inside the circle.
- ancient: You don't have stone like this within ancient burial cairn without good reason!
- small: A small cairn marks the nominal summit of the hill.
Preposition: on
- summit: Recently, I caught wind of a charity group planning to erect a new memorial cairn on the summit.
Modifies a noun
- gorm: Cairn Gorm weather station Heriot-Watt maintain a weather station on the top of Cairn Gorm.
- terrier: Cairn Terrier = Kerry Blue Terrier = Irish Setter 36.
- circle: Distinct from a cairn circle, which is not a stone circle proper.
Preposition: of
- stone: On top of the hill was a cairn of stones with a pole.
Noun used with modifier
- burial: Often, there is a low circular burial cairn inside the circle.
- summit: The summit cairn is now level with the snow compared to a few weeks ago.
- curb: Bear right with the track and follow the waymarks up to another Bronze Age curb cairn.
- memorial: The Bill Stuart memorial cairn stands a few yards further on.
- clearance: Hut circles and clearance cairns are also found on the site.
- ring: The center cairn is a ring cairn with no passage to the central chamber.
