Bawn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

File:Ross Castle.jpg
Ross Castle with its surrounding bawn

A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house. It is the anglicised version of the Irish word bábhún (sometimes spelt badhún), possibly meaning "cattle-stronghold" or "cattle-enclosure".[1] The Irish word for "cow" is and its plural is ba. The Irish word for "stronghold, enclosure" is dún, whose genitive case is dúin.

The original purpose of bawns was to protect cattle from attack. They included trenches that were often strengthened with stakes or hedges. Over time, these were gradually replaced by walls. The name then began to be used for the walls that were built around tower houses.

English and Scottish names for the same thing include "pele" (hence pele tower) and "barmkin".

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. See alternative traditional spellings under badhbhdhún in Foclóir Uí Dhuinnín: http://www.scriobh.ie/Page.aspx?id=26&l=1 Script error: No such module "webarchive".. The standard modern spelling is bábhún: Ó Domhnaill, Niall (eag.), Foclóir Gaeilge Béarla, Baile Átha Cliath: Oifig an tSoláthair (1977), p. 73.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Script error: No such module "Navbox".

Template:Fort-type-stub