▪ I. terne, a.1 (n.1) Obs. exc. as F. (tęrn).
Also 6 tern.
[a. F. terne dull, tarnished (15th c. in Godef.); of doubtful origin: see tarnish v.]
† 1. Gloomy; fierce. Sc. Obs. Also † terned a.
| 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 261 Thought ȝe as tygris be terne, be tretable in luf. a 1568 O wicket Wemen, etc. 15 in Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.) 769 Als terne as tygir, of tung vntollerable, O thow violent virago vennemous. 1638 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 160 The Moderator a most grave and wise man yet naturally somewhat terned took me up a little accurtlie. |
† b. as n. Gloom. Sc. Obs. rare—1.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxv. (Ballat of Our Lady) 7 Our tern inferne for to dispern, Helpe rialest rosyne. |
‖ 2. (as Fr.) Dull, lacking brilliancy of colouring.
| 1901 Daily News 5 Feb. 6/5 In the large sketch from Tintoret's ‘Adoration’,..the colour is dull and terne. |
▪ II. terne, a.2 and n.2
(tɜːn)
[The first element in terne-plate as a separate word.]
a. adj. Of or pertaining to terne-plate. b. n. = terne-plate.
| 1891 Pall Mall G. 9 Sept. 6/3 The terne mixture does not adhere to the sheets of iron, but runs off like quicksilver from certain parts of the sheet. 1904 Daily Chron. 15 Dec. 5/5 To the end of November he thought they would have shipped more tin, terne, and galvanised sheets than during any year in the history of Great Britain. |
▪ III. terne
obs. f. tarn.