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British

noun, adj — 11 senses

British

noun

UK [ˈbɹɪtɪʃ] · AU, CA, US [ˈbɹɪɾɪʃ]

Etymology From Middle English Brittish, from Old English Brettisċ. The spelling with single -t- appears in the 13th century under the influence of Medieval Latin Britannicus, but spelling with -tt- persists alongside -t- during the 13th to at least 18th centuries. In reference to the island of Great Britain from ca. 1400 (Latin natio Anglica sive Britannica, Brittisshe occean 1398, the Britishe nacion 1548). As a noun, referring to the British people, British soldiers, etc. from ca. 1600.

1

Usually, With definite article The residents or inhabitants of Great Britain.

2

Usually, With definite article The citizens or inhabitants of the United Kingdom.

3

History, Human sciences, Sciences Usually, With definite article The earlier inhabitants of southern Britain, prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion and subsequent migrations.

4

Obsolete, Usually, With definite article Synonym of Welsh: the Welsh people.

British

adj

Etymology From Middle English Brittish, from Old English Brettisċ. The spelling with single -t- appears in the 13th century under the influence of Medieval Latin Britannicus, but spelling with -tt- persists alongside -t- during the 13th to at least 18th centuries. In reference to the island of Great Britain from ca. 1400 (Latin natio Anglica sive Britannica, Brittisshe occean 1398, the Britishe nacion 1548). As a noun, referring to the British people, British soldiers, etc. from ca. 1600.

7 senses
  1. 1Of Britain.
  2. 2Of the United Kingdom.
  3. 3Of the Commonwealth of Nations, or the British Empire.
  4. 4Of England; English.
  5. 5Of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of…
  6. 6Of the British Isles.
  7. 7Of British English.
1

Usually, With definite article Of Britain.

2

Usually, With definite article Of the United Kingdom.

3

Usually, With definite article Of the Commonwealth of Nations, or the British Empire.

4

Informal, Proscribed, Usually, With definite article Of England; English.

5

Historical, Usually, With definite article Of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain; Brythonic.

6

Historical, Usually, With definite article Of the British Isles.

7

Usually, With definite article Of British English.

Derived terms
Belgo-British, best of British luck, Black British, black British, British America, British Antarctic Territory, British Columbia, Britisher, Britishification, Britishify, Britishish, British Islands, British Isles, Britishly, British Mandate, British North America, British Open, British Raj, British Togoland, familial British dementia, I'm British

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.