Namib Desert
/ˈnɑːmɪb ˈdɛzərt/noun
A coastal desert in southwestern Africa, extending mainly through Namibia and also into Angola and South Africa.
Did you know?The Namib’s fog can sustain specialized beetles and plants, creating life in one of the world’s driest environments without regular rainfall.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Nama
Namib
“Often interpreted as “vast place” or “open, extensive space”; the precise analysis is debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
dēsertum
“An abandoned or deserted place; a noun formed from dēserere, “to abandon.””
Late Latin
Latin
dēsertus
“Deserted, forsaken, or uninhabited.”
11th–12th Century
Old French
desert
“A wilderness or uninhabited region.”
13th Century
Middle English
desert
“A barren or uncultivated region.”
19th Century
English
Namib Desert
“The established English name for the arid coastal region of southwestern Africa.”