/ ˈbrɪtn; NAmE / noun
[ sing. ] the island containing England, Scotland and Wales
—see also Great Britain , United Kingdom
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English Breoton , from Latin Brittones Britons, superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French Bretaigne (from Latin Brit(t)annia ). It became a largely historical term until revived in the mid 16th cent., as the possible union of England and Scotland became a subject of political concern.