I. ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-t ə l adjective
Date: 1758
1.
a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a continent
continental waters
specifically often capitalized : of or relating to the continent of Europe excluding the British Isles
b. often capitalized : of, relating to, or being a cuisine derived from the classic dishes of Europe and especially France
2.
a. often capitalized : of or relating to the colonies later forming the United States
Continental Congress
b. : being the part of the United States on the North American continent ; also : being the part of the United States comprising the lower 48 states
• con·ti·nen·tal·ly -tə-lē adverb
II. noun
Date: 1777
1.
a. often capitalized : an American soldier of the Revolution in the Continental army
b.
(1) : a piece of Continental paper currency
(2) : the least bit
not worth a continental
2. : an inhabitant of a continent and especially the continent of Europe