mainland English · revision 15165

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1375}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmeɪn.lənd/, /ˈmeɪn.lænd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mayn land]], a compound of [[m|enm|mayn|t=main]] and [[m|enm|land]] (see [[main]] and [[land]]).^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The continuous body of land that makes up most of a country, as opposed to its islands: 1375 in the OED, about 1400 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It usually refers to continuous land, not islands or peninsulas.^(Etymonline) The largest islands of Shetland and of Orkney have been called Mainland since 1596.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) Regional uses followed: in Canada the part of British Columbia on the continent (1921), in Australia the continent as opposed to Tasmania (1934), and in New Zealand, colloquially, the South Island (1949).^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) ''Mainland China'' is attested by 1955,^(Etymonline) and mainlander from 1860.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – the main body of land.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1596 – Mainland, Shetland and Orkney.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1860 – mainlander.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1934 – Australia, as opposed to Tasmania.^(OED 1989)

+ * by 1955 – mainland China.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The main landmass of a country or continent, as opposed to its islands and [[peninsula|alt=peninsulas]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(New Zealand)'' A South Islanders' name for the South Island.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+ # The largest island of [[Shetland]] or of [[Orkney]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mainlander]]

+ * [[mainland China]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[main]]

+ * [[land]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}