Tintagel

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A village on the north coast of Cornwall in England, best known for its ruined medieval castle and its links to the legend of King Arthur
2. A coastal settlement in Cornwall, England, famous for the ruins of a castle traditionally linked with the birthplace of King Arthur
3. A place on the Cornish coast in southwest England, renowned for its dramatic castle remains and its ties to Arthurian legend

Etymology: Tintagel is a village on the north coast of Cornwall, England, best known for its ruined medieval castle on the cliffs, which is tied to the legend of King Arthur. The name itself has two possible sources. It may come from Cornish, where the village also had an alternative name, Trevena, meaning something like "settlement of the high ground" or "place of the high ridge". Alternatively, the name may be a borrowing from Norman French, the language brought to England after 1066, though this origin is less certain. Because the place name is old and the Cornish language was spoken in the area for many centuries, the Cornish origin is generally considered the stronger candidate. The name's survival in English reflects how Cornish place names were recorded and adapted by English and French speakers over time, leaving the village with a name whose exact meaning is still debated.