British Columbia
/ˌbrɪtɪʃ kəˈlʌmbiə/noun
A province on Canada’s western coast, established as a British colony in 1858 and entering Confederation in 1871.
Did you know?“Columbia” was an 18th-century poetic personification of America derived from Christopher Columbus, later symbolizing the continent before “Columbia” became associated especially with the United States.
Etymological Timeline
Antiquity
Latin
Britannia
“The Roman name for Britain, derived from the ethnonym Britanni; the deeper Celtic origin and meaning remain uncertain.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Britannicus
“Of or relating to Britain; the source of the later English adjective “British.””
Old English
Old English
Bryttisc
“British or relating to the Britons.”
15th–16th Century
Latin/English
Columbus / Columbia
“Columbia developed as a feminine, poetic form based on Columbus, the Latinized name of Christopher Columbus.”
18th Century
English
Columbia
“A poetic personification or name for America, often depicted as a woman and used in patriotic symbolism.”
1858
English
British Columbia
“Name given to the newly formed British colony on the Pacific coast, combining British imperial identity with the established geographic name Columbia.”
1871
English
British Columbia
“The province that joined the Canadian Confederation.”
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