[1] It denotes land belonging to Irish early Christian monasteries and churches on which right of sanctuary prevailed.
In ancient Rome, Terminus was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries and landmarks.
The placement of termonns in the Irish landscape suggests they were also associated with transit at boundaries across rivers and bays.
Cattle and other moveable forms of wealth were often gathered in them, as mentions of raids on termonns attest.
For example, in an agreement drawn up in 1568 between members of the coarb family of Dysert it is recorded that: "each freeholder of the sept or lineage of the O'Deas living on the eighteen columns of the said Termon of Dishert must come and build their own houses and keep their respective residences" etc.