berern
The Old English word for barn is berern.
berern is a noun used to refer to a building.
Meaning: building (noun)
Did you know?
- The modern English word 'barn' actually comes from the Old English bere-ern, which literally means a 'barley-house'.
- In the early medieval period, a building like a berern was often part of a larger complex called a 'tun', which is where we get the modern word 'town'.
- An Old English speaker might have used the word hord to describe the valuable contents kept inside a berern, similar to how we use 'hoard'.
Example conversation
Godric and Eadgyth are talking about the farm chores.
- GodricHwǣr is se berern?Where is the barn?
- EadgythHit is be þæm felde, Godric.It is by the field, Godric.
- GodricIs se berern nū ful?Is the barn now full?
- EadgythGeseah Eadgyth þæt hit is ful.Eadgyth saw that it is full.
