crannog

noun

cran·​nog ˈkra-nəg How to pronounce crannog (audio)
: an artificial fortified island constructed in a lake or marsh originally in prehistoric Ireland and Scotland

Examples of crannog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The crannogs are on Loch Nell, a tranquil inland loch, and some argue they could have been constructed as solar observation sites. Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 The flint tool could help date the crannog to the Neolithic period, which spanned from 7000 to 1700 B.C., according to the Smithsonian Institution. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024 The team hopes to use sonar to identify more hidden crannogs in the Outer Hebrides. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 14 June 2019 Neolithic Britons loved building things with big rocks, but the crannogs are unlike settlements or other monuments. Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, 12 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

Scottish Gaelic crannag & Irish crannóg

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crannog was in 1608

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Cite this Entry

“Crannog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crannog. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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