küüne

Kääne is a term used in Estonian with several related meanings. The core sense is a bend or curve in a line, path, or object, derived from the verb käänata 'to turn' and the root kään-. In geometry, engineering and carpentry, kääne denotes a change of direction or a curved edge, such as the bend of a road or the bevel along a component. In cartography and surveying, it can describe a point where a route changes direction. The word also functions as a surname in Estonia and among Finnic-speaking communities, and it appears as a toponym for various geographic features and settlements. In toponymy, the name commonly refers to locations associated with turning points, crossroads, or conspicuous bends in the landscape. In Estonian grammar, kääne is a common noun and follows standard declension patterns of the language. Cognate forms are found in related Finnic languages, reflecting a shared etymology related to turning or bending.