TERN
tern
(noun) small slender gull having narrow wings and a forked tail
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
tern (plural terns)
Any of various sea birds of the family Sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.
Etymology 2
Noun
tern (plural terns)
(dated) That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together.
(dated) A lottery prize resulting from the favourable combination of three numbers in the draw.
Adjective
tern (not comparable)
(rare) threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate
Synonyms
• ternary, treble, trine; see also triple
Anagrams
• Rent, rent, tren
Source: Wiktionary
Tern, n. Etym: [Dan. terne, tærne; akin to Sw. tärna, Icel. ; cf. NL.
sterna.] (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds,
allied to the gulls, and belonging to Sterna and various allied
genera.
Note: Terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form, in
their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and their longer and
more pointed wings. The tail is usually forked. Most of the species
are white with the back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark
head. The common European tern (Sterna hirundo) is found also in Asia
and America. Among other American species are the arctic tern (S.
paradisæa), the roseate tern (S. Dougalli), the least tern (S.
Antillarum), the royal tern (S. maxima), and the sooty tern (S.
fuliginosa). Hooded tern. See Fairy bird, under Fairy.
– Marsh tern, any tern of the genus Hydrochelidon. They frequent
marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects.
– River tern, any tern belonging to SeĂ«na or allied genera which
frequent rivers.
– Sea tern, any tern of the genus Thalasseus. Terns of this genus
have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent seas and the
mouths of large rivers.
Tern, a. Etym: [L. pl. terni three each, three; akin to tres three.
See Three, and cf. Trine.]
Definition: Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate. Tern flowers
(Bot.), flowers growing three and three together.
– Tern leaves (Bot.), leaves arranged in threes, or three by three,
or having three in each whorl or set.
– Tern peduncles (Bot.), three peduncles growing together from the
same axis.
– Tern schooner (Naut.), a three-masted schooner.
Tern, n. Etym: [F. terne. See Tern, a.]
Definition: That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers
together; especially, a prize in a lottery resulting from the
favorable combination of three numbers in the drawing; also, the
three numbers themselves.
She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery. Mrs. Browning.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition