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Definition of dane

dane

/deɪn/
dane
Plural:Danes
•
Adjective:Danish
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dane Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A native or inhabitant of Denmark, or a person of Danish descent.

Example

"The physicist Niels Bohr is celebrated as one of the most brilliant Danes of the 20th century."

2

A large, powerful, and short-haired breed of domestic dog, formally known as the Great Dane, originating in Germany and known for its massive size and gentle temperament.

Example

"They decided to adopt a rescue Dane, quickly realizing he was large enough to take up the entire sofa."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dane

Word Nuance & Usage

Always capitalized as 'Dane' when referring to a person from Denmark. In casual contexts, it is frequently used as a shortened common noun for the Great Dane dog breed.

• Rhymes for dane

• Nearby Words

dandruff
dandruffy
dandy
dane
danes
dang
danged

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'Dane', from Old English 'Dene' (plural) and Old Norse 'Danir'. Ultimately of obscure origin, possibly related to a Germanic root meaning 'flat land'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dane. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dane
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