Britain

Britain (brĭt`ən), alternate term for Great Britain, comprised of England, Scotland, and Wales. Often used synonymously with the United Kingdom, the name Britain is derived from Britannia, given by the Romans to the portion of the island of Great Britain that they occupied. It has sometimes been used to refer to Great Britain in the period before the Germanic invasions of the 5th cent. A.D. After the union (1707) of England and Scotland, parliamentary legislation for a time used "South Britain" and "North Britain" to refer to the two parts. For a more complete history, see Great Britain.

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Britain

Name historically applied to the island of Great Britain. Britain is used especially when referring to its pre-Roman and Roman periods and to its early Anglo-Saxon period. It is the Anglicized form of Latin Britannia. See also United Kingdom.

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Britain

Albion

poetic name for England. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 19]

beefeater

yeoman of the English royal guard, esp. at the Tower of London; slang for Englishman. [Br. Culture: Misc.]

Bull, John

personification of Britain. [Br. Folklore: Benét, 45]

Court of St

. James’s British royal court. [Br. Hist.: Misc.]

George, St.

patron saint of Britain. [Br. Hist.: Golden Legend]

God Save the Queen

British national anthem. [Br. Culture: Scholes, 408]

Nation of Shopkeepers

name disdainfully given to Britain by Napoleon Bonaparte. [Fr. Hist.: Wheeler, 256]

Rule Britannia!

patriotic song of Britain. [Br. Culture: Scholes, 897–898]

10 Downing Street

the British government; refers to location of Prime Minister’s residence [Br. Culture: Benét, 286]

Union Jack

British national flag. [Br. Culture: Misc.]

Whitehall

many government offices on this street; synonymous with government. [Br. Hist.: NCE, 2970]