Eagre
/ˈiːɡə(r)/noun
A tidal bore, especially the powerful incoming wave that forms in certain estuaries.
Did you know?The word’s origin is uncertain, but one leading theory connects it with an old Germanic family associated with awe or terror—an evocative fit for a roaring tidal bore.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic (proposed)
PGmc
*agō
“Awe, fear, or terror; a reconstructed source proposed for the word’s Germanic connections.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
agi
“Fear, terror, or dread; a possible cognate in the word’s uncertain origin.”
Old English
Old English
ege
“Fear or dread; part of the broader Germanic word family sometimes associated with eagre.”
17th Century
English
eagre
“A tidal bore or unusually high incoming wave in an estuary.”
Modern English
English
eagre
“A tidal bore, particularly one occurring in rivers such as the Humber or Severn.”