Muir

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A reference to a person known for their contributions to conservation and environmentalism
2. A term associated with national parks or natural landscapes named after the individual
3. An indication of a philosophical connection with nature and wilderness appreciation

Etymology: In Scots, "muir" meant "moor," an open stretch of rough, often boggy upland ground. The word is the Scots form of the English "moor," and it is the word that lies behind the modern name in the sense given here, where the term is applied to a national park or natural landscape named after a person. A less common proposal links the word to Scottish Gaelic "muir," meaning "ocean." This would give the name a sea-related origin rather than a land-related one. The Scots "moor" explanation is the one usually given, and the Gaelic link remains only a suggestion.

Synonyms: moor, heath, upland, wilderness, grassland

Antonyms: forest, woodland