Orkney

Orkneys (ˈɔːknɪz) or Orkney Islands

/ (ˈɔːknɪ) /

pl n

a group of over 70 islands off the N coast of Scotland, separated from the mainland by the Pentland Firth: constitutes an island authority of Scotland; low-lying and treeless; many important prehistoric remains. Administrative centre: Kirkwall. Pop: 19 310 (2003 est). Area: 974 sq km (376 sq miles)Related word: Orcadian

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

Examples from the Web for orkney

Over 75 percent of the staff of the Hudson Bay Company was from Orkney alone.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was not easy to find a copy of The Pirate in Orkney this year.
The Best of Brit Lit|Peter Stothard|December 13, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Landing in Orkney on the 29th of October, he remained in the palace of Kirkwall, and there died a broken-hearted man.
The Thirsty Sword|Robert Leighton
They were never to know whether the big man with the gold cigarette case had been the Duke of Orkney or not.
Adam Johnstone's Son|F. Marion Crawford

He had visitors from Orkney, and from Caithness, to the great annoyance of his persecutors.
Letters of Samuel Rutherford|Samuel Rutherford
Hakon gathered his wrecks together, and sorrowfully made for Orkney.
Early Kings of Norway|Thomas Carlyle
We are to weigh at two in the morning, and hope to reach Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, by breakfast to-morrow.
Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 4 (of 10)|John Gibson Lockhart.

Word Origin and History for orkney

Orkney

name of a group of islands off the north coast of Scotland, from Old Norse Orkney-jar "Seal Islands," from orkn "seal," probably imitative of its bark. Related: Orkneyman.