different between lucerne vs lucern

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French luzerne.

Noun

lucerne (uncountable)

1. (Britain) Alfalfa.

Italian

Noun

lucerne f

1. plural of lucerna

Old French

Etymology

From Latin lucerna.

Noun

lucerne f (oblique plural lucernes, nominative singular lucerne, nominative plural lucernes)

1. lamp; torch (flame used to provide light)

English

Etymology 1

Latin lucerna.

Noun

lucern (plural lucerns)

1. (obsolete) A lamp.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Lydgate to this entry?)

Etymology 2

French luzerne.

Noun

lucern (uncountable)

1. Alternative form of lucerne (the plant alfalfa)

Etymology 3

Uncertain; possibly from Lucerne in Switzerland.

Noun

lucern (plural lucerns)

1. (obsolete) A sort of hunting dog.
   • 1603-1607, George Chapman, Bussy D'Ambois

     My lucerns, too (or dogs inur'd to hunt / Beasts of most rapine).

2. (obsolete) An animal whose fur was formerly much in request (by some supposed to be the lynx); also spelled lusern or luzern.

   • The pole-cat, martern, and the rich-skin'd lucern / I know to chase.

References