# menhir

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɛnhɪə/

## Definitions
1. A single tall standing stone as a monument, especially one dating to prehistoric times.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *méǵh₂s
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂sder.?
Proto-Celtic *maginos
Proto-Brythonic *maɣɨnder.
Breton maen
Proto-Indo-European *seh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-rós
Proto-Celtic *sīros
Proto-Brythonic *hirder.
Breton hir
Breton maen-hirbor.
French menhirbor.
English menhir
Either borrowed from French menhir, or from its etymon Breton maen-hir, compound of maen (“stone”) + hir (“long”). Compare with Welsh maen hir, and Cornish men hir.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/menhir