rowan
/ˈɹoʊ.ən/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.32 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
noun
Any of various small deciduous trees or shrubs of genus Sorbus, belonging to the rose family, with pinnate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and usually with orange-red berries.
noun
Alternative form of rowen (“aftermath”).
name
A male given name from Irish.
Example Sentences
- "Among the pines grew rowans hung with scarlet berries, and bilberry bushes whose leaves would be fair game for white moth caterpillars in spring."
- "He was a native of Elliott county, but he had lived for a few years in Rowan. In March, 1885, he was riding along the public road, about six miles from Morehead, when he was shot from ambush and killed."
- "[...] his family came to North Carolina in 1783, finally settling in Rowan, while others of the connection settled in Caldwell and Burke."
Etymology
Originally Scots and northern English, from Middle English ron, rone, compare also Northern English raan, ran. At first referring to its fruits, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse reynir. Also related to Norwegian Bokmål rogn, Danish røn. Ultimately related to the root of red.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɹoʊ.ən/
- British English: /ˈɹəʊ.ən/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
Sorbus subg. Sorbus