Menhir

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmÉ›nhɪə/

Origin

From Breton maen-hir, from maen ("stone") + hir ("tall") ( = Welsh maen hir, Cornish mênhere).

Full definition of menhir

Noun

1. A single tall standing stone as a monument, especially of prehistoric times.
• 1963, Thomas Pynchon, V.:no time has passed since we lived in caves, grappled with fish at the reedy shore, buried our dead with a song, with red-ochre and pulled up our dolmens, temples and menhirs and standing stones to the glory of some indeterminate god or gods ....
• 1980, Anthony Burgess, Earthly Powers:On the coast tree ferns and pandanus palms. Inland termite menhirs seventeen feet high.