earthen

English

Etymology

From Middle English erthen, urthen, from Old English eorþen, *yrþen, *ierþen (“made of earth”), from Proto-Germanic *irþīnaz, equivalent to earth +‎ -en (adjectival suffix). Cognate with Dutch aarden (“earthen”), German irden (“earthen”).

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈəɹθən/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɜː(ɹ)θən/
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)θən

Adjective

earthen (comparative more earthen, superlative most earthen)

  1. Made of earth or mud.
    • 1826, James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans
      A hundred earthen dwellings stood on the margin of the lake...
  2. Made of clay (especially said of pottery).
    • 1589, Richard Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation
      ... the Godfathers and Godmothers follow into the midst of the Church, where there is a small table ready set, and on it an earthen pot ful of warme water, ...

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