Britain
/ˈbrɪtən/noun
A large island in northwestern Europe comprising England, Scotland, and Wales.
Did you know?The earliest surviving references to Britain come through Greek geographers, who recorded forms such as Prettanike before Latin authors standardized Britannia.
Etymological Timeline
4th Century BCE
Greek
Πρεττανική (Prettanikē)
“A Greek name for the island or islands of Britain, recorded in accounts associated with Pytheas.”
1st Century BCE
Latin
Britannia
“The Roman name for Britain, adapted from an earlier Celtic or Greek form.”
1st Century CE
Latin
Britanni
“The Britons, the people associated with the island.”
Old English
Old English
Bryttas / Brytenlond
“The Britons and the land of Britain in early English usage.”
Middle English
Middle English
Breteyne
“A medieval English form inherited through Anglo-Norman and Old French usage.”
Modern English
English
Britain
“The established modern English name for the island of Great Britain.”