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erne

erne

9.9
A large grey-brown sea eagle with a short white tail that eats fish and lives by coasts and lakes
  • noun
  • /ɜrn/
  • UK
translation icon : erne
  • During summer, the erne can often be seen hunting for fish along the coastline.

Examples

  • Birdwatchers flock to the region to catch a glimpse of the rare erne nesting by the cliffs.

  • Some examples of these early Celtic and Celtic-Christian sculptures are found in the environs of Lough Erne in Northern Ireland.

    Academic text (2000)
  • On White Island in Lough Erne, a Sheela-like figure is inserted sideways near the door of a Romanesque church.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Two similar stone carvings are located in a remote, atmospheric Victorian graveyard on Boa Island in Lough Erne.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The erne soared gracefully over the lakes, its white tail visible against the blue sky.

Synonyms

ern
vserne
  • UK
1 9.9

A large brown sea eagle with a short white tail that lives by the sea

is the longer standard spelling used in many references
8.0

A large brown bird with a short white tail that lives by the sea in Europe and Greenland

is the broader common name not focused on coastal habitat
European sea eagle
vserne
  • UK
7.9

A large grey-brown eagle with a short white tail that lives in Europe and Greenland

is a general species name not tied to a single region
gray sea eagle
vserne
  • US
8.5

A large grey-brown eagle with a short white tail shaped like a wedge found in Europe and Greenland

is the species name that does not focus only on color
Haliaeetus albicilla
vserne
  • Specialized
9.9

A large brown eagle with a white tail that lives near coasts in Europe and Asia

is limited to Europe and Greenland rather than extending into Asia

Surface Forms

erne singular
ernes plural

Etymology

Erne comes from an old English word earn meaning 'eagle', a name people in northern Europe used long ago. So an erne is simply an eagle, especially the large sea eagle with a pale, white-tipped tail.