Albion

Origin

Ancient Gallo-Latin name for Britain, Albiōn (Middle Welsh Albbu, Old Irish Albu), is from Proto-Celtic *albiyū ("world") (stem : *albiyon-), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élbʰos, *álbʰos ("white"), whence also Latin albus ("white") and Ancient Greek ἀλφός (alphos, "whiteness, white leprosy"). The primary meaning of Common Celtic word is "upper world" (as opposed to underworld), with semasiological development similar to e.g. Russian свет (svet, "world; light").

It is often hypothesised that the Romans took it as connected with albus ("white"), in reference to the White cliffs of Dover.

Proper noun

1. The ancient name for England (or sometimes, the British Isles), now only used poetically.
2. Any of several small towns in the United States.
3. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, a football team from West Bromwich
• 2012, April 22, Sam Sheringham, Liverpool 0-1 West Brom, The Reds laid siege to the Albion goal throughout, with Jordan Henderson striking the underside of the bar and Dirk Kuyt the inside of the post.

Related terms

• perfidious Albion

Anagrams

• albino