Dalmatia
/dælˈmeɪ.ʃə/noun
A historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, in modern Croatia.
Did you know?The name ultimately comes from an Illyrian tribe, the Delmatae, whose name is linked to the Albanian word delmë meaning “sheep,” so this coastal region may literally preserve an old word for sheep.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Illyrian
Illyrian
Delmatai / Delmatoi
“The tribal name of the people who lived in the region”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Δαλματία (Dalmatía)
“The name of the region along the Adriatic coast”
Classical Latin
Latin
Dalmatia
“The Roman province and geographic region”
Middle English
English
Dalmatye / Dalmatia
“A historical and geographic name used in learned and geographical writing”
Modern English
English
Dalmatia
“The historical coastal region in Croatia”