dàn

Dún is the Irish language word for a fort or fortified place. In both historical writing and modern usage, it serves as a general term for a defended site and appears frequently in Irish toponyms to mark places with ancient fortifications or strongholds.

Etymology and meaning. Derived from Old Irish, the term dún originally signified a fortified residence or stronghold. In the landscape of Ireland and parts of Scotland where Gaelic languages were spoken, dún has come to denote a protected site that could range from a hilltop fortress to a settlement enclosed by walls and earthworks. The word is distinct from other types of fortified sites in Irish archaeology, such as ráth (ringfort) and caisleán (castle), and it is often associated with more substantial or later medieval forms of defense.

Archaeological usage. In archaeological terms, a dún refers to a defended establishment that may include a central dwelling or hall surrounded by defensive works such as ditches, banks, or stone walls. Many dún sites date from the Iron Age through early medieval times and can vary in size from small complexes to substantial enclosures. They may sit on elevated ground, river bluffs, or other strategically advantageous locations.

Toponymy and examples. The prefix dún appears in numerous Irish place-names, reflecting historical fortifications at those locations. Notable examples include Dundalk, Dundrum, and Dún Laoghaire, the latter now a Dublin suburb and coastal town. In Scottish Gaelic, the related dùn appears in place-names as well, illustrating a shared linguistic heritage of fortified places.

See also. Ráth, Lios, Caisleán.