Etymology

This n. can confidently be derived from ON, cp. OIcel stjarna 'star' < PGmc *sternōn (cp. Go staírno, MLG sterne, OHG (masc.) sterno, Ger Stern). Contrast OE steorra (and PDE star) and its WGmc cognates OFris stera, OHG sterro and MHG sterre, which derive from a parallel Gmc form *sterrōn.

PGmc Ancestor

*sternōn

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

stjarna 'star'
(ONP stjarna (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far stjørna, Icel stjarna, Norw stjerna, Dan stjerne, Sw. stiärna

OE Cognate

cp. steorra 'star'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

B2c

Attestation

Attested in ME in the N and N/EM from Orrm onwards. N and Sc in MnE dial (EDD).
 

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Pe 115; Pat 149; WA 28, 127, 282, etc.

Bibliography

MED sterne (n.1) , OED starn (n.) , HTOED , EDD starn (sb.1), Bj. 220, de Vries stjarna, Mag. stjarna, Orel *sternōn