Wessex
/ˈwɛs.ɪks/noun
An early medieval kingdom in southern England, later a historical region.
Did you know?The name began as a political label for the West Saxons, and only later hardened into the legendary kingdom associated with Alfred the Great and the rise of England.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sahsą
“knife, short sword”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sahsōniz
“the Saxons, originally “people of the knife/sword””
Old English
OE
Westseaxan
“the West Saxons”
Old English
OE
Westseaxna rīce
“the kingdom of the West Saxons”
Early Middle English
English
Wessex
“the West Saxon kingdom in southern England”
Modern English
English
Wessex
“the historical region and former kingdom in southern England”