Briton
[brit-n]
- a native or inhabitant of Great Britain, especially of England.
- one of the Celtic people formerly occupying the southern part of the island of Britain.
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Origin of Briton
1250–1300; < Medieval Latin Britōn- (stem of Britō); replacing Middle English Breton < Old French < Late Latin Brittōnēs Britons
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for briton
Contemporary Examples
On board were 149 Indonesians, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, a Malaysian, and one Briton, the airline said.
Abdullah Deghayes, an 18-year-old Briton whose uncle reportedly was a detainee at Guantanamo, died fighting in Syria on Monday.
She was also a patriot, a Briton, and a wife, excelling at the arts that each of those categories demand of a person.
Just before storming the complex the militants ambushed nearby a bus carrying employees and killed a Briton and an Algerian.
He then saw 7-year old Zainab al-Hilli [lying in the recovery position] yards from the car, where the Briton had placed her.
Historical Examples
The nobleman told his name—a name dear to every Briton and every Irishman.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
This he does vilely, and earns not only the contempt of his brethren, but the amused scorn of the Briton.
American NotesRudyard Kipling
He would not have been a Briton if these untoward combinations of events had not made him surly.
Hetty's Strange HistoryAnonymous
"Had about decided not to go," frowned the Briton with an odd change of manner.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
The mood of the Briton underwent a characteristic quick shift.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
Briton
- a native or inhabitant of Britain
- a citizen of the United Kingdom
- history any of the early Celtic inhabitants of S Britain who were largely dispossessed by the Anglo-Saxon invaders after the 5th century ad
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French Breton, from Latin Britto, of Celtic origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for briton
Briton
n.
Anglo-French Bretun, from Latin Brittonem (nominative Britto, misspelled Brito in MSS) "a member of the tribe of the Britons," from *Britt-os, the Celtic name of the Celtic inhabitants of Britain and southern Scotland before the 5c. Anglo-Saxon invasion drove them into Wales, Cornwall, and a few other corners. In 4c. B.C.E. Greek they are recorded as Prittanoi, which is said to mean "tattooed people." Exclusively in historical use after Old English period; revived when James I was proclaimed King of Great Britain in 1604, and made official at the union of England and Scotland in 1707.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper