Albion
[al-bee-uh n]
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for albion
Historical Examples
The Albion Dock could be readily enlarged to receive a ship of war.
The Last VoyageLady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey
On one was a satire on the hypocritical rapacity of perfidious Albion.
For ten minutes the "Hudson's" launch lay alongside the "Albion."
Dave Darrin on Mediterranean ServiceH. Irving Hancock
And I know of no place where it could be established to so much advantage, as at Albion.
Albion was "consid'able of a joker," Mr. Peaslee reflected gloomily.
The Calico CatCharles Miner Thompson
Albion
- archaic, or poetic Britain or England
Show More
Word Origin
C13: from Latin, of Celtic origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for albion
Albion
ancient name of England, Old English, from Latin, sometimes said to be from the non-Indo-European base *alb "mountain," which also is suggested as the source of Latin Alpes "Alps," Albania, and Alba, an Irish name for "Scotland." But more likely from Latin albus "white" (see alb), which would be an apt description of the chalk cliffs of the island's southern coast.
Breoton is garsecges ealond, ðæt wæs iu geara Albion haten. [translation of Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," c.900 C.E.]
Perfidious Albion translates French rhetorical phrase la perfide Albion, said to have been in use since 16c. but popularized by Napoleon I in the recruiting drive of 1813, a reference to the supposedly treacherous policies of Britain when dealing with foreign powers.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper