henge

[henj] /hɛndʒ/
noun, Archaeology
1.
a Neolithic monument of the British Isles, consisting of a circular area enclosed by a bank and ditch and often containing additional features including one or more circles of upright stone or wood pillars: probably used for ritual purposes or for marking astronomical events, as solstices and equinoxes.
Origin
1730-40; back formation from Stonehenge, Middle English Stanenges, Stanheng, equivalent to stan stone + -heng, probably orig. “something hanging”; cf. hinge
Examples from the web for henge
  • Two more dwellings were uncovered away from the main settlement, to the western end of the henge.
British Dictionary definitions for henge

henge

/hɛndʒ/
noun
1.
a circular area, often containing a circle of stones or sometimes wooden posts, dating from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages
Word Origin
back formation from Stonehenge
Contemporary definitions for henge
noun

a prehistoric circular area with standing stone or wooden pillars and often enclosed by a bank or ditch, possibly used for rituals; also called henge monument

Examples

Henge mainly pertains to a Neolithic monument of the British Isles.

Word Origin and History for henge
n.

1740, noted as a Yorkshire word for structures such as Stonehenge.