DUNE

Meaning

A ridge or hill of sand piled up by currents of wind or water.

Etymology

Origin: German

Partly from a dialectal form of down; and partly from Dutch duin (from Middle Dutch dune) or from Middle Low German dûne; all ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *dūn, *dūnā, of uncertain origin; possibly from Proto-Celtic *dūnom (“stronghold, rampart”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰuHnom (“enclosure”), from *dʰewh₂- (“to finish, come full circle”). Doublet of down (which see).

Synonyms & Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 16 recorded puzzles:

• 2026-09-10UADEHLN
• 2026-05-07NDUIEMZ
• 2026-03-23UCNLHED
• 2025-12-22UCNLKED
• 2025-11-03NDXUOEP
• 2025-10-08NADEUWX
• 2024-12-21UCONEDF
• 2024-08-22UCKEDHN
• 2024-07-17UDEINTV
• 2024-06-01NDLFEGU
• 2024-04-21DEUZNMI
• 2024-03-07NCDEKTU

+4 earlier appearances in the archive.