groyne
English
Alternative forms
- groin (US)
Etymology
From Middle English groyn (“snout”), from Old French groign, from Late Latin grunium, grunia, from Latin grunnire (“grunt like a pig”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡɹɔɪn/
- Rhymes: -ɔɪn
Noun
groyne (plural groynes)
- An often wooden structure that projects from a coastline to prevent erosion, longshore drift etc.; a breakwater.
- 1993, Will Self, My Idea of Fun:
- Our assimilation into one another had been beautifully timed, with each little revelation of unpleasantness acting as a modest baffler, a groyne to our mutual inundation. Now all of this was going to be flooded, drenched in poisonous ichor.
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Translations
structure to prevent erosion
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Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old French groign.
Etymology 2
From Old French groigner and Old English grunnian.
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