Baltic
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Baltic¹
- /ˈbɒl.tɪk/ UK
- /ˈbɔːl.tɪk/ UK
- /ˈbɔl.tɪk/ US
- /ˈbɑl.tɪk/ cot caught merger
Where it comes from
From Latin Balticus, from Latin Balthae (“dwellers near the Baltic sea”); equivalent to Balt + -ic. The ultimate origin of the ethnonym is unknown, but possibilities include:
* Related to Lithuanian baltas (“white”) and Proto-Slavic *bolto (“swamp, bog, mud”), which are likely from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel(H)- (“white”) via Proto-Balto-Slavic *bálˀtas (“white”). This supposes a semantic shift in Baltic from “white” to something like “marsh” or “sea”, paralleling that in the Slavic cognate. (However, the only such parallels attested from Baltic occur in Lithuanian balà (“swamp, mire, morass; puddle”) and Latvian bala (“loamy valley without trees, swamp, depression”), which are not only semantically more distant but crucially lack the *-t- suffix.) On the other hand, similar words for “swamp, marsh” throughout Europe have been considered substrate words; more at *bolto and baltë.
* From a hypothetical derivative of Proto-Germanic *baltijaz (itself borrowed from Latin balteus (“belt”)), originally referring to the Danish straits, "the Belts". This is suggested by Adam of Bremen, who in the 11th century first recorded the name (Balticus, eo quod in modum baltei longo tractu per Scithicas regiones tendatur usque in Greciam).
All of these options involve a great deal of speculation, however. More on Wikipedia.
adjective more Baltic · most Baltic · baltic
- Of or pertaining to the Baltic region or the Baltic Sea. In the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three of the Soviet Union's fifteen constituent republics, last year's most dangerous fantasies have been sanctioned by the government itself.
- Of or pertaining to any of the Baltic languages. The Baltic division of the group embraces the Lithuanian and Lettic.
- Of or pertaining to the Balts (the Baltic peoples).
- Extremely cold. It's twenty-three degrees outside, freezing is thirty two and with the wind chill factor it's Baltic out there.
proper noun baltic
- The Baltic Sea.
- A geographic region of Northern Europe, surrounding the Baltic Sea. Well, you see, I was temporarily in command of the cruiser coming down the Baltic, and passing an island rock a few miles away, I thought it would be a good opportunity to test a new gun that had been put aboard when we left England.
- A geographic region of Northern Europe, consisting of the three countries to the east of the Baltic Sea, i.e. Latvia, Lithuanian and Estonia; in full, the Baltics or the Baltic states. It appears from the evidence, that the corn from the Baltic is often very heavily taxed, and that this tax is generally raised in proportion to our necessities.
- The Baltic language family; the Baltic languages
- The Baltic Exchange, a membership organisation for the maritime industry.
- An unincorporated community in Kings County, in eastern Prince Edward Island, Canada.
- A village and census-designated place in the center of the town of Sprague, Connecticut.
- A village in Coshocton County, Holmes County and Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
- A city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.
baltic²
adjective more baltic · most baltic
- Alternative letter-case form of Baltic (“very cold”).Baltic 'We're staying out at the Lake of Menteith and it's baltic out there. They reckon the lake could freeze over again if this weather gets worse.'
