Semigallia
/ˌsɛmɪˈɡæl.i.ə/noun
A historical region in present-day Latvia, associated with the Semigallians.
Did you know?Semigallia comes from the name of the Semigallians, a Baltic tribe; the deeper meaning of the tribal name is uncertain, so the eerie-sounding “semi-” is not the Latin prefix for “half.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient / Pre-13th Century
Baltic
*Semigali
“The tribal name of the Semigallians, an ancient Baltic people.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Semigallia
“The land of the Semigallians.”
Medieval German
German
Semgallen
“The Semigallian region.”
Modern English
English
Semigallia
“A historical region in Latvia.”
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