Pyrenees
See also: Pyrénées
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English Pireneies, partly from Middle French Pyrénées and partly from Latin Pȳrēnaeī (montēs),[1] from Ancient Greek Πῡρήνη (Pūrḗnē, “Pyrene”, literally “fruit-stone”), daughter of Bebryx and beloved of Herakles, and who, legend has it, is buried in the range.[2]
Pronunciation
Audio (Southern England) (file)
Proper noun
the Pyrenees pl (plural only)
- The mountain range separating Spain from France, inhabited by Basques in the west, Occitans in the centre-north, Aragonese in the centre-south, and Catalans in the east.
- A wine-producing region and local government area (Shire of Pyrenees) in Victoria, Australia.
Related terms
Translations
the mountain range separating Spain from France
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References
- “Pyrenees, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “Pyrenees”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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