Hun
See also: Appendix:Variations of "hun"
English
Etymology
From Old English Hūne, Hūnas, from Late Latin Hunnus, from Ancient Greek Ούννοι (Oúnnoi), borrowed through Middle Iranian, apparently ultimately from Turkic *Hun-yü, the name of a tribe (they were known in China as Xiongnu).[1]
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /hʌn/
Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ʌn
Noun
Hun (plural Huns)
- A member of a nomadic tribe, the Huns, most likely of Turkic origin, which invaded Europe in the fourth century from Central Asia. There are also theories of Mongolic, Iranian, Yeniseian origins, while some scientists claim they are a separate group.
- (figuratively) a vandal, a barbarian, an uncivilized destructive person
- (slang, derogatory, Britain, Australia) A German (popular in the media since World War I)
- (slang, derogatory, Britain, Ireland) A Protestant.
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
member of nomadic tribe
derogatory: German — see Fritz
German — see German
References
- Douglas Harper, "Hun", Online Etymology Dictionary
Dutch
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
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