balmoral
|bal-mor-al|
🇺🇸
/bælˈmɔrəl/
🇬🇧
/bælˈmɔːrəl/
name of the Balmoral estate → styles/items named after it
Etymology
'balmoral' originates from Scottish Gaelic or Scots place-naming elements, specifically from the estate name 'Balmoral' in Aberdeenshire; the name likely contains Gaelic 'baile' meaning 'town' or 'farm' and elements such as 'mòr' meaning 'large' or an element indicating a notable dwelling.
'balmoral' changed from a local Scots place-name for the estate 'Balmoral' and later became used in English to refer both to the royal residence and to items (caps, boots, patterns) associated with that estate; by the 19th century the place-name had given rise to these derived uses.
Initially, it referred only to the place name 'Balmoral' (the estate/castle); over time it also came to mean items and styles connected to that place (e.g., the Balmoral bonnet and Balmoral boot).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(proper noun) The name of the royal estate and castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, used particularly as the private residence of the British monarch.
The royal family spent the summer at balmoral.
Noun 2
a type of Scottish cap (also called a Balmoral bonnet): a flat, brimless wool cap often with a toorie or small pompom, associated with Highland dress.
He wore a balmoral with his kilt.
Synonyms
Noun 3
a style of shoe or boot (Balmoral boot): a formal shoe/boot characterized by closed lacing and a stitched toe, commonly used in menswear.
He polished his balmoral before the ceremony.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
of or relating to Balmoral (the estate) or to the style associated with it (e.g., balmoral tartan, balmoral style).
They chose a balmoral pattern for the ceremony's decor.
Last updated: 2026/01/07 17:08