Brittany
/ˈbrɪt.ən.i/noun
A historical region and former duchy in northwestern France.
Did you know?The name arose because Britons from southeastern Britain migrated into Armorica during the post-Roman period, creating a second Britain across the Channel.
Etymological Timeline
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Celtic/Latin
Britanni / Britannia
“The Britons and their land; the origin of the geographic name Britain”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Britannia minor
““Lesser Britain,” a term distinguishing the continental settlement from Britain”
6th–9th Century
Old Breton
Breizh
“Brittany; the Breton name for the region settled by Brittonic migrants”
11th Century
Old French
Bretaigne
“Brittany, literally the land associated with the Britons”
15th Century
Middle English
Bretayne
“Brittany, the French region across the Channel”
Modern English
English
Brittany
“The historic region of northwestern France”