Tartary
/ˈtɑːr.tə.ri/noun
A historical European name for the vast regions of Central and North Asia inhabited by peoples then called Tatars or Tartars.
Did you know?European writers often confused or merged “Tatar” with “Tartar,” and some medieval scholars linked it to Tartarus, the underworld, turning geography into a kind of hellish legend.
Etymological Timeline
13th Century
Latin
Tartaria
“A Latinized name used by Europeans for lands associated with the Tatars/Tartars.”
13th-14th Century
French
Tartarie
“A French form referring to the broad Asian regions linked to the Tartars.”
14th Century
English
Tartary
“An English name for the vast, vaguely defined regions of inner Asia beyond Europe’s knowledge.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Tartari
“A form used for the peoples Europeans called Tartars or Tatars.”
Modern English
English
Tartary
“A historical or poetic term for the old European idea of Central and North Asia.”