Baltic

English

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Baltic

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• (very cold): baltic

Etymology

From Latin Balticus, from Latin Balthae (“dwellers near the Baltic sea”), equivalent to Balt +‎ -ic. The ultimate origin is uncertain, but possibilities could include:

• From North Germanic *baltaz (“strait”), in reference to the narrow entranceway of the sea
• Related to Lithuanian baltas (“white”) and Proto-Slavic *bolto (“swamp, bog, mud”), which is from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“white”)
• Related to Latin balteus (“belt”) (compare Proto-Germanic *baltijaz), 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).

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: bôl'tĭk, IPA^(key): /ˈbɔːl.tɪk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔl.tɪk/
  • (US, cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈbɑl.tɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Baltic (comparative more Baltic, superlative most Baltic)

1. Of or pertaining to the Baltic region or the Baltic Sea.
   • 1994, S. C. Rowell, Lithuania Ascending, page 9:

     The Teutonic Knights were newly established in the Baltic region, where they owed their first possessions to Mazovian policy.

2. Of or pertaining to any of the Baltic languages.
   • 1918, Charles E. Bennett, New Latin Grammar:

     The Baltic division of the group embraces the Lithuanian and Lettic.

3. Of or pertaining to the Balts (the Baltic peoples).
4. (UK, informal) Extremely cold.
   • 2010, Craig Moffat, Standing in the Dark, →ISBN, page 134:

     It's twenty-three degrees outside, freezing is thirty two and with the wind chill factor it's Baltic out there.

   • 2012, Richard Moore, Slaying the Badger, →ISBN:

     Apart from anything else, it's absolutely Baltic outside. In the past 24 hours, a freeze has abruptly descended on the whole of Europe, and here in the northwest corner of France, the cold claws of the Atlantic are particularly sharp.

Derived terms

Translations

Proper noun

Baltic

1. The Baltic Sea.
2. A region of Northern Europe, surrounding the Baltic Sea.
   • 1906, Robert Barr, A Rock in the Baltic:

     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.

3. The areas on the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea; the Baltic states
   • 1815, Thomas Malthus, Importation of Foreign Corn:

     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.

4. The Baltic language family; the Baltic languages
5. The Baltic Exchange, a membership organisation for the maritime industry.
6. An unincorporated area of Kings County, in eastern Prince Edward Island, Canada.
7. A village and census-designated place in the center of the town of Sprague, Connecticut.
8. A village in Coshocton County, Holmes County and Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
9. A city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• Category:Terms derived from Baltic languages

Further reading

• ISO 639-5 code bat