Great Britain

Japanese: グレート･ブリテン[島]（英語表記）Great Britain

An island that constitutes the major part of the United Kingdom. With an area of about 216,800 km2, it is the 8th largest island in the world, with a population of about 57 million (1995). This island, located on the continental shelf in northwestern Europe, was originally introduced to the Mediterranean world as "Albion Island" by the Carthaginian Himilco, but around 330 B.C., the navigator Pytheas called it "Pretannica Island," and this name became more commonly used. "Pretannica" is a Celtic word meaning "painted" people, that is, a tattooed tribe. However, during the Roman period, the name "Britannia," named after the Celtic Britons who were the last to migrate to the island, became established, and became the name of today's Britain.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

イギリスの主要部を構成する島。面積約21万6800km2で世界8位，人口約5700万(1995)。ヨーロッパ北西部の大陸棚上のこの島は，当初カルタゴ人ヒミルコによって〈アルビオン島〉として地中海世界へ伝えられたが，前330年ころの航海者ピュテアスが〈プレタンニカ島〉と呼び，それが一般化していった。プレタンニカとはケルト語の〈彩色した〉人，すなわち入墨した部族の意味である。しかしローマ時代に入ると，最も遅くこの島へ移住したケルト系ブリトン人にちなむ〈ブリタニア〉の名称が定着し，今日のブリテンとなった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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