Terne
/tɜːrn/noun
Dull or lacking brightness; also, a lead-and-tin alloy used as a protective coating for metal.
Did you know?Terne has two specialized histories in English: it can describe a muted, lusterless appearance or the dull metallic coating called terneplate.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tréyes
“Three; the ancient numeral root behind many Indo-European words for threeness.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
ternus
“Three each or threefold.”
Medieval French
Old French
terne
“Dull, dark, or lacking brilliance; the source of the English adjective.”
16th Century
English
terne
“Dull or not bright.”
19th Century
English
terne
“A lead-and-tin alloy, especially one used to coat iron or steel.”
Modern English
English
terne
“Lusterless in appearance, or relating to a protective lead-tin metal coating.”