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definitions

Scandinavian

[skan-duh-ney-vee-uh n]
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adjective

of or relating to Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their languages.

noun

a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia.
the group of languages composed of Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Old Norse, Swedish, and the language of the Faeroe Islands; North Germanic. Abbreviation: Scand

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Origin of Scandinavian

First recorded in 1775–85; Scandinavi(a) + -an
Related formsnon-Scan·di·na·vi·an, adjective, nounpro-Scan·di·na·vi·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scandinavian

Contemporary Examples of scandinavian

Historical Examples of scandinavian

  • Their religion resembled that of their Scandinavian neighbours.

    English Villages

    P. H. Ditchfield

  • The origin of the name thistle is probably Scandinavian, and associated with Thor.

    Storyology

    Benjamin Taylor

  • The play was the latest work of the Scandinavian dramatist, the actress was Glory Quayle.

    The Christian

    Hall Caine

  • Indeed, we have many pure Scandinavian surnames and place-names.

  • The second attack on the Scandinavian convoy occurred on 12th December.

    Submarine Warfare of To-day

    Charles W. Domville-Fife

British Dictionary definitions for scandinavian

Scandinavian

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their languages

noun

a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia
Also: Norse the northern group of Germanic languages, consisting of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faeroese
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 scandinavian

Scandinavian

adj.

1784; see Scandinavia + -ian. From 1830 as a noun; 1959 in reference to furniture and decor. In U.S. colloquial use sometimes Scandahoovian (1929), Scandiwegian. Alternative adjective Scandian (1660s) is from Latin Scandia.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper