Bōurne

(bōrn, for bōund. See BOUND, n.) In the sense of stream, A.-S. burna, brunna, O. S. brunno, M. H. Ger. burne, brunne, N. H. Ger. born, bronne, brunne, brunnen, O. H. Ger. prunno, Goth. brunna, Icel. brunnr, Sw. brunn, Dan. brönd, D. bron. The root is A.-S. beornan, byrnan, brinnan, to burn, because the source of a stream seems to issue forth bubbling and boiling from the earth. Cf. A.-S. well, Eng. well, from weallan, to boil, A.-S. seað, well, from seaðan, to seethe, and Lat. torrens, torrent, from torrere, to scorch, burn.] 1. A bound; a limit; hence, point aimed at; goal. The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveler returns. Shak. And peeps the far-off spire, his evening bourn. Wordsworth. Sole bourn, sole wish, sole object of my song. Wordsworth. 2. A stream or rivulet; a burn. My little boat can safely pass this perilous bourn. Spenser.