Forms: 3–5 Bretayne, Breteyn(e, 4–5 Brutayne, 5 Bretaingne, 5–6 Brytayne, 6 Britan, Brytayn, Britayn(e, Briteigne; Sc. Bretane, Bertane, Bartane; 6–7 Brittaine, Britaine, 6– Britain. [ME. Bretayne, -eyne, a. OF. Bretaigne:—L. Brittannia or Brittānia, the island of Britain. (Lat. Britannia would have given F. Bri-, Breaigne.) The OE. name was Breoton, Breoten, Bryten, Breten, pointing back to a WGer. *Brituna; also, Breoton-lond, Breten-lond. OCeltic had apparently no name for the island as distinct from the people. (With 16th c. Sc. Bertane, Bartane, cf. Dumbarton.)]
The proper name of the whole island containing England, Wales, and Scotland, with their dependencies; more fully called Great Britain; now also used for the British state or empire as a whole.
After the OE. period, Britain was used only as a historical term, until about the time of Henry VIII. and Edward VI., when it came again into practical politics in connection with the efforts made to unite England and Scotland; in 1604 James I. was proclaimed ‘King of Great Britain’; and this name was adopted for the United Kingdom, at the Union in 1707. After that event, South Britain and North Britain are frequent in Acts of Parl. for England and Scotland, respectively: the latter is still in occasional (chiefly postal) use. (So West Britain, humorously or polemically for ‘Ireland.’) Greater Britain is a modern rhetorical phrase for ‘Great Britain and the colonies,’ ‘the British Empire,’ brought into vogue in 1868.
a. 855. O. E. Chron., Introd. Gaius Iulius se Casere ærest Romana Breten-lond ʓesohte.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, I. i. Breoton is ealond.
1297. R. Glouc., 22. And aftur Brut ys owne nome he clepede hit Breteyne. 82. Bretayne.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim. (Vernon MS.), 232. Þe Auenturus of Brutayne.
c. 1428. Arthur, 265. Maximian kyng of Bretaingne Conquered al France and Almayne.
c. 1500. Lyfe Jos. Armathy (W. de W.), lf. 4. Ioseph of Aramathia … came in to grete Brytayne.
c. 1505. Dunbar, ‘Schir for Ȝour Grace,’ 11. Fairest and best In Bartane.
c. 1515. Prophecy of Bertlington. The French wife shal beare the Sonne Shal weild al Bretane to the sea.
1542. Hen. VIII., Declar. Scots, B iv b. Brutus of whom the realme than callyd Brytayn toke fyrst that name.
1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, H vj. Ye names of both subiectes & realmes ceassing, & to be changed into ye name of Britain & Britons, as it was at first, & yet stil ought to be.
1548. N. Bodrugan, Epitome, A v b. England the only supreme seat of thempire of greate Briteigne.
1604. Procl. Jas. I., 24 Oct. King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.
1630. Wadsworth, Sp. Pilgr., vii. 69. His Majesty of great Britaine.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 779. King James … obliterating the names of Scots and English, would have both to be united and grow up into one Kingdome … to be called Britain.
1667. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., Ded. To the Metropolis of Great Britain, the most renowned and late flourishing city of London.
1707. Act of Union, xi. § 1. That the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland shall … be united into one Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain.
1710. Act 9 Anne, vi. § 4. To export and transport from Great Britain into Ireland.
1718. Act 5 Geo. I., xi. § 16. The importation of Tar and Pitch from North-Britain into any part of South-Britain.
1729. Act 2 Geo. II., xxxv. § 12. In several Parts of North Britain commonly called Scotland. Ibid. Brought … to that part of Great Britain called England.
1740. Thomson, ‘Rule Britannia.’ When Britain first, at Heaven’s command, Arose from out the azure main.
c. 1800. Dibdin, ‘I sailed from the Downs.’ So adieu to the white cliffs of Britain.
1832. Act 2 & 3 Will. IV., lxxv. § 1. In that part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, and … that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland.
1868. C. W. Dilke (title), Greater Britain: A Record of Travels … 1866 and 1867.
† 2. The duchy of Brittany or Bretagne in France; also called Little Britain, Britain the less. Obs.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 36. Burgoyne and Brabane and Bretayne the lesse.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners (title), Arthur of lytell Brytayne.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 113. Out of places in Britaine came the families of Saint Aubin, Morley, [etc.].
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., Wks. (1860), 339. Re-annexing of the duchy of Britain to the crown of France … by marriage with the daughter of Britain.
