Zealand
|Ze-land|
/ˈziːlənd/
sea + land (place name / island)
Etymology
'Zealand' (English) in references such as 'New Zealand' originates from Dutch, specifically the province name 'Zeeland', where 'zee' meant 'sea' and 'land' meant 'land'.
'Zeeland' (Dutch) was used by Dutch explorers (e.g., Abel Tasman) to name distant territories; separately, the Danish island name 'Sjælland' was rendered in English as 'Zealand' — over time both uses contributed to the English toponymic usage of 'Zealand'.
Initially the forms referred specifically to local place-names ('sea-land' for the Dutch province and the Danish island name); over time the English 'Zealand' has been used both for the Danish island and as the element in the name 'New Zealand', extending its geographic reference.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the largest island of Denmark (Danish name 'Sjælland').
Zealand is home to the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
Noun 2
an English form referring to the Dutch province 'Zeeland' (literally 'sea land').
The Dutch province of Zeeland gave its name to parts of the world explored by Dutch sailors.
Noun 3
the element 'Zealand' as used in the place-name 'New Zealand' (named after the Dutch province 'Zeeland').
In the name New Zealand, 'Zealand' refers back to the Dutch province Zeeland.
Last updated: 2025/12/01 10:33