English

Noun

terne ‎(uncountable)

1. An alloy coating made of lead and tin (or, more recently, zinc and tin) and used to cover steel.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɛʁn/

Etymology 1

From Middle French, from Old French terne ‎(“dull, dim”), from Frankish *tarni ‎(“hidden, obscure”), from Proto-Germanic *darnijaz ‎(“concealed, masked, veiled”), from Proto-Indo-European *dher(ǝ)-, *dhrē- ‎(“to hold, hold tight, support”). Cognate with Old High German tarni ‎(“hidden”), Old English dyrne, dierne ‎(“hidden, secret, obscure, concealed”). More at dern.

Adjective

terne m, f ‎(plural ternes)

1. dull; colourless; drab

Related terms

• ternir

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin ternas.

Noun

terne m ‎(plural ternes)

1. (obsolete) trinity, gathering of three people
2. (backgammon, dice games) double-three
3. (bingo) three in a row

Anagrams

• enter, entre, entré, rente, renté

Latin

Adjective

terne

1. vocative masculine singular of ternus

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse þerna

Noun

terne f, m ‎(definite singular terna or ternen, indefinite plural terner, definite plural ternene)

1. a tern (seabird of family Sternidae)

References

• “terne” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse þerna

Noun

terne f ‎(definite singular terna, indefinite plural terner, definite plural ternene)

1. a tern (seabird of family Sternidae)

References

• “terne” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.