awn

noun

ˈȯn 

: one of the slender bristles that terminate the glumes of the spikelet in some cereal and other grasses

awned

ˈȯnd 

adjective

awnless

ˈȯn-ləs 

adjective

Examples of awn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Foxtails and grass awns are particularly dangerous because their sharp ends can puncture skin (anywhere on the body) and cause infection, abscesses, or migrate into the body. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025

These grasses have seed awns with a sharp, pointed shape, resembling the tail of a fox, hence the name. — Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), foxtail grass awns can be found throughout North America, particularly from May to December. — Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 21 July 2023

Smallholding farmers of West Bengal and Jharkhand prefer varieties with long and strong awns (spine-like projections at the end of the hull), which deter grazing by cattle and goats. — Debal Deb, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2019

These grasses have bushy florets hosting grass awns, seeds with a sharp appendage meant to burrow into the ground. — Molly Korzenowski, Twin Cities, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle English awne, going back to late Old English agene (accusative plural) "awns," Old English ægnan (plural) "chaff, sweepings," going back to Germanic *aganō-, *ahanō (whence also Old High German agana "awn, chaff, straw," Old Norse ǫgn, plural agnar "chaff, husks," Gothic ahana "chaff"), going back to Indo-European *h₂eḱ-on- (whence also Old Prussian ackons "awn" and perhaps Latin agna "ear of grain," Greek akont-, ákōn "javelin, dart"), derivative of *h₂eḱ- "sharp, pointed" — more at edge entry 1

Note: Middle English awne may reflect a borrowing from Old Norse, with the Old English word continued by dialectal [e:nz] (Lancashire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire; see Clive Upton, et al., Survey of English Dialects: The Dictionary and Grammar, Routledge, 1994).

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above