Dictionary

towan en · NOUN

Etymology

Borrowed from Cornish tewyn.

Meanings

1. (Cornwall) A sand dune.
   • The towans in the neighbourhood of Gwithian may be divided into three or four divisions:—The Gwithian towans, which are really a part of the Phillack towans, and may be comparatively recent; the Godrevy towans, which are certainly older, and must have been formed when the mouth of the Red River was placed rather differently from its present position; the Garrack, a small area of blown sand, lying further back, and separate, and perhaps contemporaneous with the Godrevy towans; and fourthly, a considerable amount of grey 'mineral' sand, mixed with shell, which is blowing to-day and has over-whelmed some good low-lying grazing land, but which might be stopped if anyone had the sense to do it. Nearly the whole of the Godrevy towans is now enclosed as a rabbit-warren. 1909, Walter Rogers, "A Kitchen-Midden on Godrevy Towans", in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, volumes 17-18, page 238
   • Here the pasture is old; and the grass very short, and perhaps salt. On these towans, distinguished as they are from very ancient times, the Cornish probably were feeding their sheep, before the Roman explored their country. 1816, Richard Polwhele, The History of Cornwall, page 161:

Forms