ben1
/bɛn
/noun Scottish
(Especially in place names) a high mountain or mountain peak: Ben Nevis...
- From the bustling streets of the little town to the peaks of the highest bens, there can be only one topic of conversation in and around Fort William for the next week.
- The conical upper section of the mountain is reached and the well-defined, rocky path zig-zags to the short summit ridge with its steep drop into the ben's north-east corrie.
- Continue beside the loch to Taynuilt from where you can see twin-peaked Ben Cruachan (3,695ft) to the left of the road.
Origin
Late 18th century: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish beann.
ben2
/bɛn/noun Scottish
The inner room in a two-roomed cottage. See also but2.
Origin
Late 18th century: dialect variant of Middle English binne 'within' (adverb), from Old English binnan (related to Dutch and German binnen).