Cannanore
/ˌkænəˈnɔːr/noun
A former English name for the Indian city now known as Kannur, in Kerala.
Did you know?Cannanore is an Anglicized form of the Malayalam place-name Kannur, and its history reflects how European cartographers reshaped local names as they moved through the spice trade.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient/Medieval period
Malayalam
Kannur
“The local place-name for the coastal city in northern Kerala”
14th–15th Century
Arabic
Qannūr / Kannūr
“A transliterated form used by traders and travelers referring to the port”
16th Century
Portuguese
Cannanore
“Portuguese colonial spelling of the Indian port city”
17th–19th Century
English
Cannanore
“English usage for the coastal town and surrounding district”
Modern English
English
Kannur
“The current standard English name for the city, replacing the older colonial form”