Armorican

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of Armorica, the ancient region of northwestern Gaul corresponding roughly to modern Brittany and Normandy
2. Pertaining to the people, culture, or geographical area of historic Armorica in ancient western France
3. Connected with the Armorican peninsula, notable in ancient times for its distinct Celtic inhabitants and cultural heritage

Etymology: Armorican is a straightforward formation: the place name Armorica, the ancient name for the stretch of northwestern Gaul that today covers roughly Brittany and Normandy, plus the suffix "-an", which turns a place name into an adjective meaning "relating to" or "of" that place. Armorica itself comes from a Gaulish name, "Armorica", derived from elements meaning something like "by the sea," reflecting the coastal location of the region. The suffix is the familiar one found in words like "Roman" or "Victorian", so the word simply means "of Armorica" and is used mainly in historical and scholarly writing about the region and its peoples.

Synonyms: Armorican dialect, Armorican language, Breton-related, Gaulish-related