Forms: 4–6 Iuyn, 5 Iuyne, Ioyne, 6 Iung, Iuyng; (2 gen. Iunies), 3 Iun, 4–7 Iune, (4 Iunye, 5 Ione), 7– June. [In OE. and sometimes in ME. in L. form Jūnius, also Juni; in ME. a. F. juin, † juing (= Pr. junh, Cat. juny, Sp. junio, It. giugno):—L. Jūnius; from 14th c. refashioned after L. as June.]
1. The sixth month of the year, in which the summer solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere.
α. [c. 1050. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia (1885), VIII. 312. Aprelis, iunius, september, and november.
a. 1100. Gerefa ibid. (1886), IX. 261. In Maio and Junio and Julio.
a. 1123. O. E. Chron., an. 1110. On Iunies monðe ætywde an steorra norðan eastan.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 245. In the honor of whom he ordeynede the monethe of Iunius, that is to saye, of yonger men.]
β. 1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 295. Þe firste day of Iuyn.
c. 1450. Merlin, 54. The xj day of Iuyne.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxiv. 229. In the monethes of Iuyn and Iuyll next folowyng.
c. 1500. Melusine, 16. Theuen … of saint johan baptiste, whiche is on the xx. day of Iung [F. juing].
1503. Kalender of Sheph. (colophon). Prentyt in parys the .xxiii. day of iuyng, oon thowsand ccccc & III.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 37. The .xxv. daie of Iuyn.
γ. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8310. Þus was þe þridde day of Iun antioche inome.
13[?]. K. Alis., 1844 (Bodley MS.). Mery it is in june and hoot firmament.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. xiv. (Bodl. MS.). Þe monþe of Iune is þe ende of springing tyme. Ibid. (ed. 1495). The month of Iune is begynnynge of Somer.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10822. With the monith of May, & the mery Ione.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 84. The sayd .xxiiii. day of June, whiche was sonday and Midsomerday.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 75. He was but as the Cuckow is in Iune, Heard, not regarded.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, V. x. It was now a pleasant evening in the latter end of June.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., V. xviii. A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June.
1848. Lowell, Vis. Sir Launfal, I. Prelude iii. And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.
a. 1882. Kendall, Poems (1886), 132. Twenty white-haired Junes have left us—gray with frost and bleak with gale [in Australia].
2. Comb., as June-like adj.; June-apple = JENNETING (Fallows, Suppl. Dict., 1886); June-berry, the fruit (also called service-berry) of a small N. American tree, the shad-bush (Amelanchier canadensis, N.O. Rosaceæ); also the tree; June-bug, a name for various beetles that appear in June: (a) of the European genus Rhinotrogus; (b) of the genus Lachnosterna of the northern U.S.; (c) Allorhina nitida, of the southern U.S.; June-grass (U.S.), the Kentucky blue-grass, Poa pratensis.
1864. Webster, *June-berry.
1866. Treas. Bot., 641/2. June-berry, an American name for Amelanchier.
1862. Standard, 12 Dec., 5/4. He has lighted upon [General] Scott as a hawk lights upon a *June bug.
1897. Daily News, 14 May, 6/5. The weather, however, was anything but *June-like.
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXIX. 316/1. It was early *June-time.
