dawson

dawson — noun

1. a Canadian scientist from the 1800s who studied rocks, fossils, and the early hi

1.nounC1
Definition

a Canadian scientist from the 1800s who studied rocks, fossils, and the early history of the Earth, and became the first head of McGill University in Montreal.

Example

Kian wrote a school report about Dawson and his fossil discoveries in Nova Scotia.

proper noun as subject of historical reference

The museum display showed rocks that Dawson had collected during his travels across Canada.

possessive: Dawson's collected items

Common collocations
  • Dawson's work
  • Dawson's discoveries
  • Sir John William Dawson

Grammar Patterns

Dawson + verb (used as a singular proper name)

Usage Note

Commonly used with a title such as 'Sir' or 'John William Dawson' in formal historical writing.

2. a small town in the Yukon region of northern Canada, near the area where the Klo

2.nounC1
Definition

a small town in the Yukon region of northern Canada, near the area where the Klondike gold rush happened in the 1890s.

Example

Théo and his family drove to Dawson to see the old gold rush buildings.

direction: to Dawson

Winter in Dawson can be very cold, with temperatures falling below minus forty degrees.

Common collocations
  • in Dawson
  • to Dawson
  • Dawson City
  • Dawson, Yukon

Grammar Patterns

in/to/from Dawson (used as a place name)

Usage Note

May be referred to as 'Dawson City' in some contexts, although officially the name is simply Dawson.

Etymology

HebrewEnglishEnglish surname

The name Dawson comes from the English surname Dawson, which means 'son of David' (from the medieval nickname Daw, a short form of David). The town in Yukon was named after the Canadian geologist George Mercer Dawson, who surveyed the region. The surname itself traces back through Middle English to the Hebrew name David.