nun

1. A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a convent, under the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. "They holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration." (Wordsworth)

2. <zoology> A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of feathers covering the head. The smew.

The European blue titmouse. Gray nuns, the members of a religious order established in Montreal in 1745, whence branches were introduced into the United States in 1853; so called from the colour or their robe, and known in religion as Sisters of Charity of Montreal. Nun buoy. See Buoy.

Origin: OE. Nunne, AS. Nunne, fr. L. Nonna nun, nonnus monk; cf. Gr,; of unknown origin. Cf. Nunnery.

Source: Websters Dictionary

(01 Mar 1998)


Terms mentioned in text: woman, life, lives, under, poverty, obedience, holy, time, quiet, breathless, adoration, zoology, white, variety, domestic, pigeons, veil, feathers, covering, head, smew, blue, titmouse, gray, members, order, branches, introduced, united, states, colour, robe, religion, sisters
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