archipelago etymology

Etymology

• Greek: ἀρχι- (arki-, "chief") + πέλαγος (pelagos, "sea")

Meaning

A cluster or group of islands

Origin

The word "archipelago" was first used in the 16th century by the Portuguese explorer Diogo de Albuquerque to describe the Maluku Islands in the Indonesian archipelago. The word quickly spread to other European languages and has been used since then to refer to any group of islands.

Usage

The term "archipelago" is often used interchangeably with the term "island group", but there is a subtle difference between the two. An island group is simply a collection of islands, while an archipelago is a group of islands that are close together and have a common geological origin.

archipelago relate terms

• pelagic

  Etymology The word pelagic comes from the Greek word pelagos which means sea or

• arch

  Etymology The word arch is derived from the Latin word arcus which means bow or

• archon

  Etymology From Ancient Greek άρχων archōn meaning ruler Meaning and Origin

• lime

  Etymology and Origin The word lime has an intriguing etymological trail Old English

• lemon

  Etymology The word lemon originates from the Arabic word laymūn which is derived fr

• land

  Etymology Old English land Proto Germanic landuz Indo European lendh to li

• ground

  Etymology The word ground has several origins Old English grund meaning soil

• earth

  Etymology The word earth derives from the Old English word eorþe which itself is d

• heart

  Etymology The word heart comes from the Old English word heorte which is related to

• island

  Etymology The word island comes from the Old English word iland which is derived fr

• restore

  Etymology Origin Latin restaurare to repair restore Root sta to stand be stab

• oblique

  Etymology Origin Latin obliquus slanting transverse Root Proto Indo European lab