Etymology

From Middle English hernpanne, hernepanne, equivalent to harns ‎(“brains”) +‎ pan ‎(“pan, forehead”). Cognate with Scots harn-pan ‎(“harnpan”), Middle Dutch and Middle Low German hernepanne ‎(“harnpan”). Compare also Middle Low German panne ‎(“pan, forehead”), Danish pande ‎(“pan, forehead”), Swedish panna ‎(“pan, forehead”).