midden

noun

mid·​den ˈmi-dᵊn How to pronounce midden (audio)
1
2
a
: a refuse heap
especially : kitchen midden
b
: a small pile (as of seeds, bones, or leaves) gathered by a rodent (such as a pack rat)

Examples of midden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The musket balls were found together near a midden by the metal detectorist, cultural heritage coordinator Anthony Simmons said in the release, meaning a member of the First Nations could have brought the shot belt there and then discarded it. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025 The midden is a testament to the volume of shellfish eaten by Hoabinhians. Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025 This and oral reports evidenced that two even larger middens once existed nearby. Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025 This behavior could help explain why historical Florida manatee populations that were hunted by humans are absent from middens and rarely mentioned in historical accounts. Beth Brady, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for midden

Word History

Etymology

Middle English midding, from Old Norse *mykdyngja, from myki dung + dyngja manure pile — more at dung

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of midden was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Midden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midden. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

midden

noun
mid·​den ˈmid-ᵊn How to pronounce midden (audio)
: a refuse heap
especially : a mound (as of shells and bones) marking the place where prehistoric humans once lived

More from Merriam-Webster on midden

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