Added 9 October 2026
dolmen
/ˈdəʊ̯l.mən/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dolmen at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A prehistoric megalithic tomb typically having two large upright stones and a capstone.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)