— archipelagic /ahr'keuh peuh laj"ik/ , archipelagian /ahr'keuh peuh lay"jee euhn, -jeuhn/ , adj.
/ahr'keuh pel"euh goh'/ , n. , pl. archipelagos, archipelagoes .
1. a large group or chain of islands: the Malay Archipelago.
2. any large body of water with many islands.
3. the Archipelago , the Aegean Sea.
[ 1495-1505; alter. (ARCHI- for arci- ) of It arcipelago, alter. of Egeopelago the Aegean Sea Aigaîon pélagos ]