menhir

Meaning

A single tall standing stone as a monument, especially one dating to prehistoric times.

Synonyms

standing stone

Translations

menhir

menhir

menhir

Menhir

menhir

menhir

Hinkelstein

menir

Hünenstein

μενίρ

pierre levée

menhir

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɛnhɪə/

Etymology

Cognate with Cornish: mênhere

Cognate with Welsh: maen hir

In summary

PIE word
*méǵh₂s
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂sder.?
Proto-Celtic *maginos
Proto-Brythonic *maɣɨnder.
Breton maen
Proto-Indo-European *seh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-rós
Proto-Celtic *sīros
Proto-Brythonic *hirder.
Breton hir
Breton maen-hirbor.
French menhirbor.
English menhir
Either borrowed from French menhir, or from its etymon Breton maen-hir, compound of maen (“stone”) + hir (“long”). Compare with Welsh maen hir, and Cornish men hir.