dolmen en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈdəʉ̯l.mən/ (Australia)
- /ˈdɔl-/ (Australia)
- /ˈdol.mən/ (Scotland)
- dōl′mən
- /ˈdɔl-/ (Scotland)
- /ˈdəʊ̯l.mən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈdɑl-/ (Canada, General-American, cot-caught-merger)
- /ˈdɐʉ̯l.mən/ (New-Zealand)
- dŏl′-
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈdɒl-/ (Canada) without the cot–caught merger
- /ˈdoʊ̯l.mən/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈdɔːl-/ (Received-Pronunciation) older
- /ˈdɔl-/ (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
- /ˈdɒl-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈdɒl-/ (New-Zealand)
Etymology
Borrowed from French dolmen. Perhaps incorrectly fabricated from Breton taol maen (taol (“table”) + maen (“stone”)) (the correct compound would be *taolvaen, not **daolmaen). An alternative theory states the French term derives instead from Cornish tolmen, from toll (“hole”) + men (“stone”); compare the name of the Cornish standing stones Men an Toll. See also menhir.
Meanings
-
(historical, qualifier:strictly) A prehistoric megalithic tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones, most having originally been covered with earth or smaller stones to form a barrow.
They are expert smiths and coiners; they are said to have great treasures in the dolmen in which they dwell, and of which they are regarded as the builders.
1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 432:
- (broadly) Any megalithic tomb, including passage graves and wedge tombs.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dolmens | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
portal tomb · cromlech · quoit
Translations (43)
br liac'hven (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · hy դոլմեն (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · gl arca (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · gl anta (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · sv dös (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · is jötunstóll (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · cmn 石棚墓 (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · nrf pouquelaye (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · br taol-vaen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · fr dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · de Hünenstein (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · eu harrespil (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · cmn 石棚 (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · kw krommlegh (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · fi dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · mn дольмен (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · pt dólmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · ja 支石墓 (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · ga liagchiorcal (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · de Dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · nl hunebed (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · cs dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · br liac'h (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · tr dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · fi dolmeeni (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · eu mairu-baratze (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · gl dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · eu trikuharri (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · eu dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · gd cromleac (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · ko 고인돌 (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · de Hünengrab (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · de Hünenbett (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · cmn 支石墓 (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · is steindys (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · ca dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · cy cromlech (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · es dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · sv stendös (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · pl dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · ru дольме́н (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · gl forno (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones) · nrf dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones)