Albion
/ˈæl.bi.ən/noun
A poetic or literary name for Great Britain, especially England.
Did you know?The name may be linked to the Celtic word for “white,” often associated with the chalk cliffs of Dover, which would have been the first bright landfall seen from the sea.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*albiyū
“Britain or a land associated with whiteness; exact form and sense are debated”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἀλβίων (Albíōn)
“A name for Britain”
Classical Latin
Latin
Albion
“Britain, especially in poetic or geographic usage”
Old French
OF
Albion
“Britain”
Middle English
English
Albion
“A poetic name for Britain”
Modern English
English
Albion
“A literary or poetic name for Great Britain”