Caon

/keɪˈɑːn/ noun

Definition

An alternate spelling or variant of caoine; an Irish funeral lamentation or dirge.

Etymology

A variant spelling of caoine, from Irish/Gaelic caoin. This spelling preserves an older or alternative transliteration of the Irish word into English.

Kelly Says

The spelling variation between 'caoine' and 'caon' shows how Irish words were adapted inconsistently into English—there was no standardized system, so old texts might have several versions of the same word.

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