Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a native or inhabitant of Great Britain, especially of England.
- one of the Celtic people formerly occupying the southern part of the island of Britain.
noun
- a native or inhabitant of Britain
- a citizen of the United Kingdom
- history any of the early Celtic inhabitants of S Britain who were largely dispossessed by the Anglo-Saxon invaders after the 5th century ad
Anglo-French Bretun, from Latin Brittonem (nominative Britto, misspelled Brito in MSS) “a member of the tribe of the Britons,” from *Britt-os, the Celtic name of the Celtic inhabitants of Britain and southern Scotland before the 5c. Anglo-Saxon invasion drove them into Wales, Cornwall, and a few other corners. In 4c. B.C.E. Greek they are recorded as Prittanoi, which is said to mean “tattooed people.” Exclusively in historical use after Old English period; revived when James I was proclaimed King of Great Britain in 1604, and made official at the union of England and Scotland in 1707.