What is the etymology of the word "barn"? What is the origin of this word?
The origins of the English language are traced to the Celtic and Germanic languages that were spoken by native inhabitants when the Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon or Angloic, dialects developed. Some sources say that there’s a possible derivation from “barh”, meaning “dwelling” in Celtic Brittonic (a branch of Proto Indo European) during the Iron Age.

However the oldest traces of its use date back to the 9th century where it was first attested to being used for large sheds on farms, these would have been temporary structures built around year five before 1000 CE. It could be connected with Welsh ˈbernə which means ‘sheaf’ since barley and rye were the earliest crops grown near dwellings. However according to some modern linguists etymologists believe the word may actually be linked to Pictish and Latin words related to grain storage such as “cetena”, an ancient PIE root associated with storing or keeping grains safe against rodents. So, despite strong evidence pointing toward Breton roots, we cannot rule out other possibilities either way.