Churn
/tʃɜːrn/noun
To agitate or stir a substance, especially to make butter from cream.
Did you know?In Old English, 'cyrnen' was used in contexts suggesting the act of spinning or turning, linking it to ancient rituals of transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ker-
“to turn or bend.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κέρδος (kérdos)
“a twist or profit, signifying a beneficial turning.”
Old English
Old English
cyrnen
“to turn or agitate, often in reference to spinning or churning.”
Middle English
Middle English
churnen
“to agitate a liquid, particularly cream to make butter.”
Modern English
English
churn
“to vigorously mix or agitate a substance.”