n. 1 a piece of land surrounded by water. 2 anything compared to an island, esp. in being surrounded in some way. 3 = traffic island. 4 a a detached or isolated thing. b Physiol. a detached portion of tissue or group of cells (cf. ISLET). 5 Naut. a ship's superstructure, bridge, etc.
[ OE igland f. ig island + LAND: first syll. infl. by ISLE ]