Italy - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

a map of Italy

From Old English Italia, borrowed from Latin Italia, from Ancient Greek Ῑ̓ταλίᾱ (Ītalíā), possibly borrowed from Oscan 𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 (víteliú). Usually explained as a cognate of vitulus (“calf”), thus meaning "land of young bulls" in Oscan. In that case, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wet- (“year”). According to some ancient Greek authors, named after a king Italus or Italos, whose kingdom was on the peninsula.

Italy

  1. A country in Southern Europe. Official names: Italian Republic and Republic of Italy. Capital and largest city: Rome.
    • 1868, E. S. G. S., Italy and her capital, page 170:
      Rome is the heart of Italy [...]. She was, is, and must ever be, her capital.
    • 19th century, Thomas Hodgkin, Italy and her invaders, title:
      Italy and her invaders
  2. Synonym of Apennine Peninsula

country in southern Europe