Nan
/næn/noun
A familiar term for a grandmother; in some contexts, a nickname or informal term of address.
Did you know?Unlike words like “spell” or “glamour,” “nan” doesn’t hide a dark ritual root; it’s an affectionate nursery form whose exact origin is uncertain, but it became a common dialect word for grandmother.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
nan
“An affectionate or familiar form of address, especially for an older woman or grandmother in some dialects.”
17th–18th Century
English
nanny
“A nurse or caretaker; later, in some regions, grandmother.”
18th–19th Century
English
nan
“A dialectal and colloquial term for grandmother, especially in parts of Britain and Ireland.”
Modern English
English
Nan
“An informal word for grandmother or a familiar nickname.”