▪ I. pern, n.
(pɜːn)
[ad. mod.L. pernis (Cuvier 1817), an erroneous adaptation of Gr. πτέρνις name of a kind of hawk.]
A bird of the genus Pernis; the honey-buzzard.
| 1840 tr. Cuvier's Anim. Kingd. 171 The Perns or Honey Buzzards. The Common Pern..pursues insects, and principally Bees and Wasps. 1879 Brightwell in B'ham Weekly Post 21 June 5/2 The honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus){ddd}The Pern, as it is sometimes called, does not feed on honey, but on the honey-makers, digging up bees' nests to get at the busy citizens. |
▪ II. pern, v.2
(pɜːn)
Also perne.
[f. pern var. pirn n.2]
intr. In the poetry of W. B. Yeats: to move with a winding motion.
It has been suggested (1961 N. & Q. Jan. 9/1) that pern v.2 is the same word.
| 1920 W. B. Yeats Michael Robartes (1921) 17 Though I had long perned in the gyre, Between my hatred and desire, I saw my freedom won And all laugh in the sun. 1920 [see gyre v. 3]. 1928 [see gyre n. 1]. 1938 W. B. Yeats New Poems 34 Those new dead That come into my soul and escape Confusion of the bed, Or those begotten or unbegotten Perning in a band. |
▪ III. pern, v.3
see pernyng.
▪ IV. pern, perne
varr. pirn n.2