Britain

Britain
/brit"n/, n.
2. Britannia (def. 1).

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I
Name historically applied to the island of Great Britain.

Britain is used especially when referring to its pre-Roman and Roman periods and to its early Anglo-Saxon period. It is the Anglicized form of Latin Britannia. See also United Kingdom.
II
(as used in expressions)
Britain Battle of
Albert prince consort of Great Britain and Ireland

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also called  Great Britain,  

      island off the western coast of Europe that consists of England, Scotland, and Wales (qq.v.). Both terms are often used synonymously with United Kingdom (q.v.), which also includes Northern Ireland (q.v.). Administratively, Britain includes the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Islands, the Hebrides, the Orkney and Shetland islands, and other smaller offshore isles but does not include the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

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Universalium. 2010.

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