tan

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A darkening of the skin resulting from exposure to sunlight or similar light sources.

   She still has a tan from her vacation in Mexico.

2. 2
   noun

   The bark of an oak or other tree from which tannic acid is obtained.

   In two pints of water boil one ounce of tan, and a like portion of nutgall till reduced to a pint.

3. 3
   adj

   Yellowish-brown.

   a tan suit

4. 4
   adj

   Having dark skin as a result of exposure to the sun or an artificial process intended to mimic this effect.

   You’re looking very tan this week.

5. 5
   verb

   To change to a tan colour due to exposure to the sun.

   No matter how long I stay out in the sun, I never tan, though I do burn.

6. 6
   verb

   To spank or beat.

   "Well, go 'long and play; but mind you get back some time in a week, or I'll tan you."

7. 7
   verb

   To kill by gun, to shoot.

   Step on the wing, see an opp and I'll whack it Do it like Super Savage Who's the yute I Jet-Li-rise that dots and tan him (whoosh) Rise that dots and tan him

8. 8
   name

   Alternative form of Dan.

   The Tae ping camps commanded the Tan river which, flowing eastward, becomes further on the Wei, under which name it joins the Grand Canal at Lin tsing, on the northern side of the highest level of the Canal waters.

Etymology

From Middle English tan, from Old French tan (“tanbark”), from Gaulish *tannos (“green oak”) – compare Breton tann (“red oak”), Old Cornish tannen –, from Proto-Celtic *tannos (“green oak”), of uncertain origin, but perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *(s)dʰonu (“fir”). Per this hypothesis, related to Hittite [script needed] (tanau, “fir”), Latin femur, genitive feminis (“thigh”), German Tann (“woods”), Tanne (“fir”), Albanian thanë (“cranberry bush”), Ancient Greek θάμνος (thámnos, “thicket”), Avestan 𐬚𐬀𐬥𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭𐬆 (θanuuar^ə), Sanskrit धनु (dhánu).