menhir

noun

men·​hir ˈmen-ˌhir How to pronounce menhir (audio)
: a single upright rough monolith usually of prehistoric origin

Examples of menhir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By 2020, the modern menhir was a fossil in the making. Curbed, 24 Jan. 2024 The enormous, 65-ton capstone on top of its chamber is a broken fragment of a menhir, a standing stone, brought from 10 km away. Mike Parker Pearson, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2015 And yet four decades after the wrapping came off Philip Johnson and John Burgee’s 550 Madison Avenue to reveal a pink stone menhir with a fancy hat, the tower still radiates a wry, ornery, unmistakably New York personality. Curbed, 2 Nov. 2022 The original menhir may be 300 years (or more) older than the tomb. Mike Parker Pearson, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2015 Enlarge / Sculpted menhir at the entrance of the corridor leading to the dolmen. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2022 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, 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, 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, 3 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'menhir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Breton, from men stone + hir long

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of menhir was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near menhir

Cite this Entry

“Menhir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menhir. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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