Baltic

Meanings

Adjective

• Of or pertaining to the Baltic region or the Baltic Sea.
• Of or pertaining to any of the Baltic languages.
• Of or pertaining to the Balts (the Baltic peoples).
• Extremely cold.

Proper Noun

• The Baltic Sea.
• region Northern Europe (region) surrounding the Baltic Sea.
• The areas on the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea; the Baltic states
• The Baltic language family; the Baltic languages
• The Baltic Exchange, a membership organisation for the maritime industry.
• (unincorporated) area Kings County (county) in eastern Prince Edward Island (province) Canada (country).
• village/and/CDP in the center of the town of town, Sprague Connecticut (state).
• village Coshocton County (county) Holmes County (county) and Tuscarawas County (county) Ohio (state).
• city Minnehaha County (county) South Dakota (state).

Origin

• From Latin Balticus, from Latin Balthae ("dwellers near the Baltic sea"). The ultimate origin is uncertain, but possibilities are:
• From North Germanic *baltaz, in reference to the narrow entranceway of the sea
• Related to Lithuanian baltas ("white") and Proto-Slavic *bolto ("swamp, bog, mud"), which is from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ("white")
• Related to Latin balteus ("belt") (compare Proto-Germanic *baltijaz), referring to the Danish straits, "the Belts". This is suggested by Adam of Bremen, who in the 11th century first recorded the name (Balticus, eo quod in modum baltei longo tractu per Scithicas regiones tendatur usque in Greciam).