Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features and Historic Sites, 2d ed.

By Adrian Room

Book Overview

A placename is often much more than just a label. A name may bespeak the history of a nation, the culture of a people, or the hopes of an individual. Such connections are revealed in this very large reference work on placenames of the world, which offers an in-depth look at the origins of each.

First published in 1997, this 2006 edition contains 6,000+ entries--natural features such as mountains, rivers and lakes and human entities such as cities and countries. Each entry includes the name of the feature; a brief description and its geographical location; and the origin of the name with relevant historical, biographical and topographical details. Appendices give the meanings of common elements of non-English placenames (e.g., Abu, as in Abu Dhabi, means "father of"); major placenames in European languages (e.g., Pays-Bas and Paesi Bassi are the French and Italian names, respectively, for what English speakers call the Netherlands); and transcribed Chinese-language equivalents for the names of the world's countries and capitals.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786475250
• ISBN13: 9780786475254
• Release Date: March 2013
• Publisher: McFarland & Company
• Length: 439 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.9" x 9.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher