Hapsburg

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A powerful European royal house that ruled Austria, Spain and much of Central Europe for centuries ; belonging to or characteristic of that royal family and its rule
2. The princely family that dominated much of European politics from the Middle Ages to 1918 ; of, relating to, or associated with that royal house
3. A famous dynasty of European monarchs who governed large territories including Austria and Spain ; describing anything connected with that imperial family

Etymology: The name belongs to a family that rose from a modest hilltop castle in what is now northern Switzerland. According to legend, the family's first castle was called Habichtsburg, or "hawk's castle," from German "Habicht" (hawk) and "Burg" (castle). The name later shortened to Habsburg, and the family became one of the most powerful dynasties in European history, ruling the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and Austria over several centuries. The "hawk's castle" origin is a legend rather than a documented fact, so it should be read with that caution. What is certain is that the name attached itself to a single noble house, and over time the house's name came to stand for the dynasty and the lands it governed. In English, the word is used both as a noun for the family and as an adjective for things connected with it, such as "Habsburg lands" or "Habsburg policy." The spelling "Hapsburg" is an older variant that remains common in English-language writing.