Britain (Oldenmyth)
Britain (Latin: Britannia), often called Great Britain (Latin: Britannia Major) to distinguish it from neighboring regions, and historically known as Albion, is the largest of the British Isles, and is separated from mainland Europe by the Britannic Sea.
Names
The earliest Celtic name for the island was Albiu ("the world"), which gave Gaelic Albu and Alba, as well as Latin and Greek Albion.
The island was called Priden ("land of the painted ones") in early Brythonic, which gave Welsh Prydein. The demonym Priteni or Pritani ("painted ones") gave Greek Prettanike, Brettanike, Prettania, and Brettania; and Latin Brittania or Britannia. This in turn spawned later variations, including Anglo-Saxon Breten, Bryten, or Brytenlond; Norse Bretland; Norman Bretaigne or Bretaine; and later English Breteyn, Britayn, etc.