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Durn vs Dern - What's the difference?

durn | dern |

As adjectives the difference between durn and dern

is that durn is euphemism for darn, in itself a euphemism for damn while dern is hidden; secret; private.

As verbs the difference between durn and dern

is that durn is rhotized pronunciation of doing while dern is to hide; secrete, as in a hole.

As an adverb durn

is darn; damned; extremely.

As an interjection durn

is euphemism for darn, in itself a euphemism for damn.

As a noun dern is

a secret; secrecy.

durn

English

Adjective

(head)
  • (US, informal) Euphemism for darn, in itself a euphemism for damn.
  • Derived terms

    * durn tootin'

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Darn; damned; extremely.
  • Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (US, informal) Euphemism for darn, in itself a euphemism for damn.
  • Derived terms

    * durn tootin'

    Verb

    (head)
  • (slang) Rhotized pronunciation of doing.
  • How ya durn ?

    dern

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) dern, derne, from (etyl) dyrne, . See below.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A secret; secrecy.
  • A secret place; hiding.
  • An obscure language.
  • Darkness; obscurity.
  • Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) dern, derne, from (etyl) dyrne, .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Hidden; secret; private.
  • * Dr. H. More, Immortal, of the Soul
  • Now with their backs to the den's mouth they sit, / Yet shoulder not all light from the dern pit.
  • * J. R. Drake, Culprit Fay
  • Through dreary beds of tangled fern, / Through groves of nightshade dark and dern .

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) dernen, .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hide; secrete, as in a hole.
  • He at length escaped them by derning himself in a fox-earth. ? H. Miller.
  • To hide oneself; skulk.
  • But look how soon they heard of Holoferne / Their courage quail'd, and they began to derne . ? T. Hudson.

    Etymology 4

    Uncertain.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A gatepost or doorpost.
  • So I just put my eye between the wall and the dern of the gate, and I saw him come up to the back door''.., Charles Kingsley, ''Westward Ho! , Ch. XIV, How Salvation Yeo Slew the King of the Gubbings.
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