Well attestedNamed for a product of the place
copper
noun · first attested Old English
The metal’s name is the ancient name of Cyprus.
A reddish-brown metal; also a coin made from it.
Record
- Relationship
- Named for a product of the place
- Confidence
- Well attestedThe place link is the standard scholarly account.
- Attested
- Old English
- Part of speech
- noun
Explanations here are written for this atlas. Dictionary text is not copied; the sources are linked so the claim can be checked.
- Step 1
Cyprus
- Step 2
Cyprium aes
- Step 3
cuprum
- In English
copper
Latin cuprum comes from Cyprium aes, “metal of Cyprus,” an island famous in antiquity for copper working. The place-name became the English name of the element.
Also pinned to Cyprus