groyne

• groin (US)

From Middle English groyn (“snout”), from Old French groign, from Late Latin grunium, grunia, from Latin grunnire (“grunt like a pig”).

• IPA^(key): /ɡɹɔɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɔɪn
• Homophone: groin

groyne (plural groynes)

1. An often wooden structure that projects from a coastline to prevent erosion, longshore drift etc.; a breakwater.
   • 1959 May, “Notes and News: Reconstruction of Sea Wall near Abergele”, in Railway Magazine, page 359:

     Old rail and timber groynes will be erected along the beach to trap shingle moved by coastwise drift, and to rebuild the protection to the toe of the embankment.

   • 1993, Will Self, My Idea of Fun:

     Our assimilation into one another had been beautifully timed, with each little revelation of unpleasantness acting as a modest baffler, a groyne to our mutual inundation. Now all of this was going to be flooded, drenched in poisonous ichor.

• Gonyer, Gorney, eryngo, reyong

groyne

1. alternative form of groyn

groyne

1. alternative form of groynen