Wiktionary

Britayne

Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Anglo-Norman Britaine, Bretaine, Bretagne, variants of Old French Bretaigne, Bretannie via Medieval Latin Britānia, Bretannia from Latin Britannia; whence a doublet of Bretene via Old English Breoton, Breten.

Proper noun

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Britayne

  1. Britain
    Synonym: Engelond
    • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Ffrankeleẏns Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 155, recto:
      A yeer and moore laſted this bliſful lyf, / Til that the knyght of which I ſpeke of thus, / That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, / Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or twayne / In Engelond, that cleped was ek Britayne
      A year and more lasted this blissful life, / Until the knight of whom I thus speak, / That was called Arveragus of Kayrrud, / Prepared himself to go and dwell a year or two / In England, which was also called Britain
    • 1461, John Wrexworth, Guyan King-of-Arms, Grant of Arms to William Swayne of Somerset (Add. MS. 14295, fo. 5b) :[1]
      The wch blason I the foresayd Gwyon Kinge of Armes witnesse: not then borne of any other ꝑson whatsoever he bee wthin the Realme of England (otherwyse called the Ile of Great Brittaigne)
  2. Brittany
    Synonym: Armorik
    • 1386, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Franklin's Tale”, in Canterbury Tales, Oxford, published 1988, page 178:
      In Armorik, that called is Britayne, / Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • English: Britain

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Willoughby Aston Littledale, editor (1926), A Collection of Miscellaneous Grants, Crests, Confirmations, Augmentations and Exemplifications of Arms in the Mss. Preserved in the British Museum, Ashmolean Library, Queen's College, Oxford, and Elsewhere‎[1], volume 77, London: J. Whitehead and Son, Ltd., →OCLC, page 192
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Note 1