midden

noun

mid·​den ˈmi-dᵊn 

1

: dunghill

2

a

: a refuse heap

especially : kitchen midden

b

: a small pile (as of seeds, bones, or leaves) gathered by a rodent (such as a pack rat)

Examples of midden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were middens of toad bones in what appeared to be ritual contexts, sometimes comprising thousands of skeletons. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026

The Granada cemetery and midden, a discard mound, extended to some 25 acres originally. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

But this is the first time archaeologists have actually unearthed a midden with evidence that people added to it regularly for so many generations. — ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026

Now, researchers plan to extend their investigations to nearby early settlement sites to determine if Culasawani is a midden or muddle. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English midding, from Old Norse *mykdyngja, from myki dung + dyngja manure pile — more at dung

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing midden

• kitchen midden

Rhymes for midden

• bidden
• hidden
• ridden
• swidden
• bedridden
• unbidden
• gramicidin
• overridden

Kids Definition

midden

noun

mid·​den ˈmid-ᵊn 

: a refuse heap

especially : a mound (as of shells and bones) marking the place where prehistoric humans once lived