entry
Iberia
/aɪˈbɪəriə/The Iberian Peninsula; southwestern Europe
From Unknown; transmitted through Greek and Latin iberio (Name associated with Iberia and possibly the River Ebro).
from Greek Iberes , the name of a Celtic people of ancient Spain. An identical name was given to an Asiatic people near...
from Latin Iberia , the ancient name of the large southwestern peninsula of Europe
from Latin Iberia , the ancient name of the large southwestern peninsula of Europe
Word Ancestry
from Greek Iberes , the name of a Celtic people of ancient Spain. An identical name was given to an Asiatic people near...
from Latin Iberia , the ancient name of the large southwestern peninsula of Europe
from Latin Iberia , the ancient name of the large southwestern peninsula of Europe
Iberia begins with a naming puzzle: the Greeks called an ancient Spanish people the Iberes, and the Romans turned that name into Iberia. The Spanish usage is often connected with the Ebro, a major river flowing through northeastern Spain, but nobody can confidently explain where the older name itself came from. Even stranger, the Greeks used an identical name for a people living near the Caucasus, in what is now Georgia—two Iberias separated by thousands of kilometers. By about 1600, English had adopted Iberian as a noun and adjective, while the peninsula kept its grand geographical label. Think of Iberia as a historical signpost whose arrow points clearly to Spain, even though the original sign-maker has vanished.
The Story
Iberia begins with a naming puzzle: the Greeks called an ancient Spanish people the Iberes, and the Romans turned that name into Iberia. The Spanish usage is often connected with the Ebro, a major river flowing through northeastern Spain, but nobody can confidently explain where the older name itself came from. Even stranger, the Greeks used an identical name for a people living near the Caucasus, in what is now Georgia—two Iberias separated by thousands of kilometers. By about 1600, English had adopted Iberian as a noun and adjective, while the peninsula kept its grand geographical label. Think of Iberia as a historical signpost whose arrow points clearly to Spain, even though the original sign-maker has vanished.
Modern Usage
A humorous personal name for someone clever, attractive, funny, occasionally petty or rude; also a reference to Spain’s flag carrier
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary entries for Iberia
Kin & Kindred
From 'iberio'·Name associated with Iberia and possibly the River Ebro
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Etymonline
Urban Dictionary
Wikipedia
Wiktionary