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menhir

noun
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men·​hir | \ ˈmen-ˌhir How to pronounce menhir (audio) \

Definition of menhir

: a single upright rough monolith usually of prehistoric origin

Examples of menhir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While Castaño suggests a curvy line seen on the menhir refers to the winding route of the nearby Tagus River, archaeologist Primitiva Bueno Ramírez identifies the marking as a snake with a triangular head. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Drought Reveals Dolmen of Guadalperal, Popularly Dubbed ‘Spanish Stonehenge’," 9 Sep. 2019 Ancient people often moved menhirs from older tombs, often along with the graves themselves, with the occupants reburied in the newer dolmen. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Spanish drought reveals submerged megalithic tomb," 26 Sep. 2019 One of the most magical spots is the Bois de la Chaise, a fragrant pine wood dotted with boulders and even a menhir, a standing stone erected in prehistoric times. — Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Small Island Where the Tour de France Begins Is Actually a Vacationer's Paradise," 3 July 2018 In this ancient landscape dotted with fields of menhirs and mythical forests, Marianne and her new friends live out a fairy tale about salvation at 60. — Kate Betts, New York Times, "Food, Folklore and Fulfillment Against a French Backdrop," 18 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'menhir.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of menhir

1840, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for menhir

French, from Breton, from men stone + hir long

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Cite this Entry

“Menhir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menhir. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.

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