Etymology: < classical Latin Britannus (adjective) British, (noun, plural Britannī ) Briton, inhabitant of Britain, Breton, inhabitant of Brittany, apparently corresponding to Hellenistic Greek Βρεττανοί , plural (the Latin name was perhaps adopted from the Greeks of Massilia), also Πρεττανοί , Πρετανοί , probably < a British self-designation reflected by Old Welsh Priten , collective (Welsh Prydain ), although the change of the initial presents difficulties (see note); the British self-designation is perhaps ultimately < the Celtic base of Welsh pryd countenance, image, beauty, form (see pryddest n.). Compare earlier Briton n., Brett n.¹Suggested explanations for the change of the initial consonant fromp to b include voicing of an initial plosive before l or r in the process of borrowing (compare classical Latin gladius , probably < an unattested Gaulish cognate of Welsh cleddyf sword: see gladius n.) or a more complex phonological development within Celtic (see discussion in T. F. O'Rahilly Early Irish Hist. & Mythol. (1957) 451–2). If the former explanation is correct, this would mean that the British bases with initial b (see Brett n.¹ and Briton n.) show influence from Latin. A recent alternative suggestion is that the word is originally a place name derived < a word for tin in a Mediterranean Semitic or Hamitic language (compare Egyptian Demotic pretan (in an apparently isolated attestation), Coptic πιθραν , both in sense ‘tin’) and perhaps given by Phoenician traders with reference to the most important commodity bought from Britain (compare ancient Greek Κασσιτερίδες νήσοι , lit. ‘tin islands’, denoting part of the British Isles). However, an origin of these words in the name of the British Isles or people has also been suggested. In α. forms apparently influenced by the name of Britain (see Britain n.²). Compare Anglo-Norman bretagne Briton, Breton (second half of the 13th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation). Forms of this word and of Briton n. sometimes occur interchangeably in early texts. Compare Old English Brettanie Britons (apparently < classical Latin Brittannia (variant of Britannia Britannia n.) + Old English -e, inflectional ending of the i-stem declension usual for ethnonyms), which occurs only in the Old English translation of Orosius Hist.:eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) vi. xxxv.153 On þæm dagum gecuron Brettanie Maximianus him to casere ofer his willan [L. in Britannia invitus propemodum ab exercitu imperator creatus].

Etymology: < Britain, the name of the largest of the British Isles, and also (now historical) of Brittany, originally < classical Latin Brittannia , Britannia (see below), and subsequently reinforced by Anglo-Norman Brytayne , Brutaigne , Britaine , Bretayne , Bretanye , Bretannie , etc., Anglo-Norman and Old French Bretaigne , Bretagne (Middle French, French Bretagne ) Brittany (c1170 or earlier), Britain (early 12th cent.; now only in Grande-Bretagne , the name of Great Britain) < classical Latin Brittannia the island of Britain, in post-classical Latin also Brittany (6th cent.; from 11th cent. in British sources), variant of Britannia (see Britannia n.).On use in sense 1 see discussion at Britannia n. On account of the preservation of the medial consonant, French Bretagne must derive < classical Latin Brittannia , i.e. the variant of the name with geminated -tt- . Direct influence on the English word may have come from either Latin form. In British, this was apparently not the name for the island, but only of the people (see Britain n.¹), although Welsh ynys Prydain (12th–13th cent. or earlier as ynys Brydain , with the lenition of the second element indicating a genitival relationship, now no longer in use) is apparently already understood as ‘the island of Britain’ (rather than ‘the island of the Britons’) in the earliest attestations; compare also ancient Greek ἡ Πρεττανική (sc. νήσος ). An unrelated Celtic name for the island is recorded by classical writers: see Albion n. For an alternative suggestion that the attested name of the people does originally derive from an unattested place name see discussion at Britain n.¹ Variants of the place name include the following: α. OE Breotan- (in compounds), Breoton , Breten , Breton , Bretone- (in compounds), Briten , Broten (rare), Broton (rare), Bryten , OE–eMEBreoten , OE-ME Bryton , lOE Britten , Brytten , lOE-16 Britan , ME Bretone , 15 Brettyn . β. ME Bretaigne , Bretaingne , Bretaygne , Bretayn , Breteygne , Breteyn , Breteyne , Breteyngne , Brutaigne , Brutayne , Bruteyne , ME–15 Bretayne , Britayn , Britayne , Brutaine , Brytayn , Brytayne , ME–16 Britaigne , Britaine , Brittaine , Brittayn , 15 Bretane , Briteigne , 15–16 Brittain , Brittayne , 15– Britain ; Sc. pre-17Breitan , Bretan , Bretane , Bretangȝe , Bretanȝe , Bretanȝhe , Bretayne , Brettane , Brettayne , Britane , Brytane , pre-17 17– Britain . γ. Sc. pre-17 Bartan , Bartane , Bartanʒe , Bertan , Bertane . The Old English forms with -e- and -i- apparently show variant treatment of the Latin vowel as pronounced in late Roman Britain: see discussion at Brett n.¹ In later use the forms with -i- were probably reinforced by classical Latin Britannia (see Britannia n.), etc. Old English forms with -eo- are apparently the result of back mutation before -a- (in Britannia ). These are not universal, because this change did not take place before a dental in all dialects; the analogical influence of the Latin form is also likely. The forms with -u- (in both Anglo-Norman and Middle English contexts) are perhaps further influenced by the name of Brutus , legendary ancestor of the British people (see Brute n.²; compare brut n.). The γ forms show metathesis (compare sense 1); compare also the name of Dumbarton near Glasgow (c1290 as Dumbrethain ; Scottish Gaelic Dùn Breatainn , lit. ‘fort of the Britons’). From the Old English period onwards the name Britain has been used to denote the geographical area comprising England, Wales, and Scotland, with their dependencies (more fully called Great Britain : see below), and in more recent times also used for the British state or empire as a whole. After the Old English period, Britain was used only as a historical term, until the early to mid 16th cent., when it came again into practical politics in connection with the efforts made to unite England and Scotland (compare quots. 1547 and 1665). After the Act of Union of 1707, South Britain and North Britain are frequent in Acts of Parliament for England and Scotland respectively (compare quot. 1729): the latter also occurs occasionally in later (chiefly postal) use. Compare also West Britain , formerly humorously or polemically for ‘Ireland’. For illustration of the historical development compare:OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 9 June 117 Sancte Columba..com of Scottum to Breotone ond gelærde Peohtas to fullwihte.OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. Introd. 24 Breoton is garsecges ealond.c1225 (?OE) Homily: Sicut Oves absque Pastore (Worcester F.174) in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 1 [S]anctus beda was iboren her on breotene mid us.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1954 Þis lond was ihaten Albion Þa Brutus cum her on..Þis lond he clepede Brutaine.c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 232 Þe Auenturus of Brutayne.c1425 (?a1400) Arthur (Longleat 55) l. 265 Maximian kyng of Bretaingne Co[n]quered al france & Almayne. ▸ ?a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 197 Fairest and best In Bartane.c1515 Prophecy of Bertlington The French wife shal beare the Sonne Shal weild al Bretane to the sea.1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 299 By which lawes Bryton hath bene conserued..without interrupcyon.1547 J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes H vj Y^e names of both subiectes & realmes ceassing, & to be changed into y^e name of Britain & Britons, as it was at first, & yet stil ought to be.1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 779 King James..obliterating the names of Scots and English, would have both to be united and grow up into one Kingdome..to be called Britain.1689 R. Baxter Cain & Abel Malignity i. 4 Turks and Christians can live together in Hungary and all the Eastern Countreys; Orthodox and Hereticks can live together, in Poland, Helvetia, Holland, &c. But Protestants and Protestants cannot live together in Britain.1729 Act 2 Geo. II c. 35 §12 In several Parts of North Britain commonly called Scotland.1770 D. Hume Let. 22 May (1932) II. 223 There cannot be better Security in Britain..therefore..the Scheme is far from being inadmissible. The fuller name Great Britain has been in use since the Middle English period, originally to distinguish the island from Brittany, which was then also called Britain (see below). Compare also the more Britain (1582 or earlier). Compare post-classical Latin Britannia maior , maior Britannia (12th cent. in a British source), Anglo-Norman Bretannie maiur (mid 12th cent.; also grant Bretaigne ). The name gained a political aspect in connection with the union between Scotland and England: in 1604 James I was proclaimed ‘King of Great Britain’, and this name was subsequently adopted as the official name of the new kingdom created in the Act of Union (see quot. 1707). Under the Act of Union of 1800 Great Britain became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Since 1927 the country's official name has been United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . For illustration of the historical development compare:?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 6348 Bretayn þe grete was þe [sc. Conan] hete... Brouk it wele.?1511 Treat. Joseph of Armathy (de Worde) sig. A.iiii^v Ioseph of Aramathia..came in to grete Brytayn.1548 N. Bodrugan Epitome Title to Souereigntie Scotl. A v b England the only supreme seat of thempire of greate Briteigne.1604 Procl. Jas. I 24 Oct. King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 Ded. sig. A2 To the Metropolis of Great Britain, The most Renowned and late Flourishing City of London.1707 Act of Union xi. §1 That the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland shall..be united into one Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain.1729 Act 2 Geo. II c. 35 §12 Brought..to that part of Great Britain called England.1832 Act 2 & 3 William IV lxxv. §1 In that part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, and..that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland.1943 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 9 Dec. (1995) 65 I love England (not Great Britain and certainly not the British Commonwealth (grr!)), and if I was of military age, I should, I fancy, be grousing away in a fighting service. Greater Britain was a rhetorical phrase in the 19th cent. for ‘Great Britain and its colonies’, ‘the British Empire’, popularized by the following work:1868 C. W. Dilke (title) Greater Britain: Travels 1866–67. In Old English the name also occurs in the compound Bretenlond , Bretonelond , Britenland , Brytenland , Brytonland Britain (compare Old English Brytland Britain, also spec. Wales, Brittany: see Brett n.¹); compare also early modern English Britain Land , chiefly in poetry:eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 60 B.C. Gaius Iulius se casere ærest Romana Bretenlond gesohte.OE tr. Felix St. Guthlac (Vesp.) (1909) iii. 113 Ys on Bretonelande sum fenn unmætre mycelnysse.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 380 Maximus..wæs on Brytenlande geboren.1565 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc v. i And Brittayne Lande nowe deserte left alone.1688 W. Canning Gesta Grayorum 65 In the Protection of this mighty Rock, In Britain Land, whilst Tempests beat abroad. The name Britain was also used from early Middle English onwards to denote the duchy of Brittany in France, in later use usually distinguished as Little Britain , Britain the less , the less Britain , etc. (compare discussion at Brittany n.), and now only in historical use. Compare post-classical Latin Britannia minor , minor Britannia (9th cent., from c1075 in British sources), Anglo-Norman Bretagne menur , meindre Bretaigne (beginning of the 13th cent.). For illustration compare:c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12693 Of Normandie of Angou of Brutaine of Peitou.c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 21 In Armorik that called is Britayne Ther was a knyght.c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 36 Burgoyne and Brabane and Bretayn the lesse.c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 93 (heading) How Ponthus retorned to Litle Bretayn.1471 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1814) II. 102/2 Our souerane lord tuiching his passage vtouth his realm for the recoueryng of his richt of Bertane.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xx. 323 Betuyx Cornwale and Bretanȝe.c1530 Ld. Berners (title) Arthur of lytell Brytayne.1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 96 Out of places in Britaine came the families of Saint Aubin, Morley, [etc.].1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 43 Reannexing of the Duchy of Britaine to the Crowne of France..by marriage with the Daughter of Britaine.1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. x. 220 Surely God was afterwards better pleased with the Iews solemn submission..then with the cruelty of the Britons..which marrying French women in Armorica (now called little Britain).., they cut out their wives tongues for fear they should infect their children with a mixture of French.1723 P. Blair Pharmaco-botanologia i. 42 Nor has it [sc. Malva Arborea Maritima nostras] been described or observ'd by any else where, but by..the expert Dr. Morison..who found it in a small island..overagainst Little Britain, or Brittany in France.1842 L. Hunt Palfrey 10 Lays..are with good reason supposed to have had their source in the Greater or Lesser Britain—that is to say, either among the Welsh of this island, or their cousins of French Brittany.1959 A. Guérard France 520 In the fifth century, Celts from Britain, fleeing from the Angles and Saxons, colonized Armorica, which became ‘Little Britain,’ or Brittany. In of the Britains , of all the Britains (compare e.g. quots. 1897, 1901 at sense 3) after post-classical Latin Britanniarum, Britanniarum omnium. The legend post-classical Latin Brittaniarum rex ‘king of the Britains’ (shortened as Brittaniar rex, Britt rex; also Brittaniarum regina ‘queen of the Britains’) appears on British coins of various denominations from the reign of George III (from 1816, the year of the beginning of the Great Recoinage); from the reign of Edward VII (from the year 1902) the legend appears as Brittaniarum omnium rex ‘king of all the Britains’ (only in the shortened forms Britt omn rex, Br omn rex; also Britt omn regina ‘queen of all the Britains’); as such it appears on the coins of Elizabeth II of 1953 (the year of her coronation) but not subsequently.