Sean

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A common Irish masculine forename, the Irish version of the name John
2. An Irish male given name derived from the Irish form of Jean or John
3. A masculine personal name of Irish origin, equivalent to the English name John

Etymology: "Sean" is an archaic verb form, a dated spelling of "seine," the large net dragged through water to catch fish. The noun "seine" came into English from Old English "seġne," which traces back through Proto-West Germanic "*sagīna" to Latin "sagēna," and ultimately to the Ancient Greek "sagḗnē," meaning "dragnet." The Greek term's own origin is unknown. Used as a verb, "sean" simply meant to fish with a seine, that is, to catch fish by drawing a net around them and hauling it in. The spelling has largely dropped out of use, so the modern verb form most readers will meet is "seine."