Definitions: Words Derived from Places and Cultures
This table provides definitions for words that originate from specific places or cultures.
| Word | Definition | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Academy | A secondary preparatory school, especially a private one. | |
| Acapulco Gold | Mexican-grown marijuana that is considered very strong. | |
| Afro-American | An American of African and especially of black African descent. | |
| Alpinism | Mountain climbing in the Alps or other high mountains. | |
| Angeleno | A native or inhabitant of Los Angeles. | [angeleño, “de Los Angeles”] |
| Arabic Numeral | Any of the number symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. | |
| Archipelago | A large group of isles. | |
| Asiago | A yellow Italian cheese suitable for grating when aged. | |
| Armageddon | A decisive or catastrophic conflict. | [the mountain region of Megiddo, in the Old Testament] |
| Arras | A wall hanging; a tapestry. | |
| Babylonian | Characterized by a luxurious, pleasure-seeking, and often immoral way of life. | |
| Bangkok | A hat made of finely woven straw. | |
| Bermuda Shorts | Short pants that end slightly above the knee. | [the island of Bermuda] |
| Borstal | (British) A reformatory | |
| Braunschweiger | A smoked liver sausage. | |
| Broadway | The American theater spoken of collectively. | |
| Buffalo Wings | Fried chicken wings served with hot sauce and blue cheese dressing. | |
| Burger | A sandwich consisting of bread and a filling of ground meat. | |
| Burgundy | French red wine. | |
| Californio | One of the original Spanish colonists of California or their descendants. | [California] |
| Camelot | A place or time of idealized beauty, peacefulness, and enlightenment. | |
| Capri Pants | Women’s tight-fitting, calf-length pants, often having a slit on the outside of the leg bottoms. | |
| Champagne | 1. A sparkling white wine. 2. A yellowish color. | |
| Charleston | A fast ballroom dance in 4/4 time, popular during the 1920s. | |
| Chihuahua | A very small breed of dog. | |
| China | 1. High quality porcelain used for the table. | |
| Clink | A prison or a prison cell; a jail. | |
| Coliseum | A large amphitheater for public sports events, entertainment, or assemblies. | |
| Cologne | A scented liquid made of alcohol and various fragrant oils. | |
| Dalmatian | A breed of dog with spotted fur. | |
| Dollar | 1. A coin or bill that is worth one dollar. 2. The U.S currency | |
| Fescennine | Licentious, Obscene. | [Fescennia, a town of ancient Etruria known for its licentious verses] |
| Finlandize | To cause to adopt a neutral or conciliatory posture and policy in its relations with a great power. | |
| Fustian | A coarse, sturdy cloth made of cotton and flax. | [El Fustat, a section of Cairo] |
| Genoise | A delicate, buttery sponge cake. | [Genoa, a city of northwest Italy] |
| Guinea Pig | 1. Any of various tailless rodents that are used as experimental animals. 2. A person who is used as a subject for experimentation or research. | [the Guinea coast] |
| Hackneyed | Lacking in freshness or originality. | [Hackney, a borough in London] |
| Hollywood | 1. The U.S. film industry. | [Hollywood, California] |
| Indian | Relating to any of the Native American peoples. | |
| Italian Dressing | A salad dressing. | |
| Italian Sandwich | A submarine sandwich made with white bread. | |
| Japonism | Something characteristically Japanese. | |
| Java | Brewed coffee. | |
| Lesbian | A gay or homosexual woman. | |
| Lyonnaise | Cooked with onions. | |
| Malaga | A sweet fortified wine. | [Malaga, Spain] |
| Mall | A shopping center. | [The Mall, in London which is noted by its promenade] |
| Manhattan | A type of cocktail. | |
| Manx Cat | Any of a breed of the domestic cat. | |
| Mongolism | Down syndrome. |