Prussia
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈpɹʌʃə/
- Rhymes: -ʌʃə
Origin
From the New Latin Prussia
, a Latinization used by Peter of Dusburg of a (Old Prussian, or perhaps Lithuanian or Latvian) autonym. The Middle English designation for the region, Pruce, derives from the same Latinization and is the source of the terms pruce and spruce.
Full definition of Prussia
Proper noun
Prussia
(plural Prussias)- (chiefly historical) A geographical area on the Baltic coast of northeastern Europe.
- (historical) A Baltic country located in this area, conquered by the Teutonic Order and ultimately absorbed into Germany.
- (historical) A German province which was originally located in this area but later greatly expanded, and which was the predecessor to and a member of the German Empire; abolished as an administrative unit at the end of the Second World War.
Usage notes
In the Baltic languages and German language, the 'u' is long; it was also long in , but it has become short in modern English.