n.
Pronunciation: ' t ə rn
Function: noun
Etymology: of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish terne tern
Date: 1678
: any of various chiefly marine birds (subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae and especially genus Sterna ) that differ from the related gulls in usually smaller size, a more slender build, a sharply pointed bill, narrower wings, and an often forked tail
tern