maharen

Welsh

Maharen

Etymology

From earlier maharaen from marahwyn, cf. halen (“salt”) from halaen from halwyn. The first half of the word may be related to mehyr (“spear”) and the second element to oen (“lamb”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /maˈharɛn/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /maˈharan/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /maˈhaːrɛn/, /maˈharɛn/

Noun

maharen m (plural meheryn)

1. (North Wales) a ram, a male sheep

   Synonym: hwrdd

Derived terms

• capel maharen (“resorting to the mountain during the hours of divine service”)
• cachar maharen (“tying up a person while in a squatting position”)
• llygad maharen (“limpet”)
• maharen y gloch (“bellwether”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
maharen	faharen	unchanged	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “maharen”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies