cweartern

• *cweartærn

From *cweart (“lamentation, groaning”) +‎ ern (“place”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwæ͜ɑr.tern/, [ˈkwæ͜ɑrˠ.terˠn]

cweartern n

1. jail, prison

   Sē wer wæs on cwearterne for þīefþe.

   The man was in jail for theft.

   Sē dēma hine dēmde tō tīen dagum on cwearterne.

   The judge sentenced him to ten days in prison.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Clement the Martyr"

     Þā cwelleras þā ġeopenodon þæt cweartern and nānne ne ġemētton.

     The executioners then opened the prison and found no one.

• carcern
• dung

• Middle English: quartern