Sunnybank

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A residential suburb in the southern part of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia
2. A district on the southern side of Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland, known for its homes and shopping centre
3. An outer residential area of the city of Brisbane located within the Australian state of Queensland

Etymology: "Sunnybank" is a place name rather than a common word, and its origin is simply English. It is a compound of "sunny" and "bank," meaning a slope or elevation of ground that catches the sun. Many places called Sunnybank, in Britain, Australia, the United States and elsewhere, took their names from exactly this kind of description, a sheltered rise of land that stays warm and bright. The name follows a common pattern in English place naming, where a landscape feature is paired with an adjective describing its appearance or exposure. Because the name was coined independently in many places, there is no single originating individual or event to point to. The best-known bearers, such as the Brisbane suburb of Sunnybank, were named for their local geography rather than for any notable person. Its meaning has stayed literal throughout, which makes it one of the more transparent place names in English.