Science Fair Project Encyclopedia The word Britain is used to
refer to - the United Kingdom (UK) - the island of Great
Britain, which consists of the countries of England, Scotland,
and Wales - sometimes the Roman province called "Britain" or
"Britannia" The word British generally means belonging to or
associated with Britain in either of the above senses (i.e. the
country the United Kingdom or the island of Great Britain).
However, the term has a range of related usages (see British).
Britain is not to be confused with Brittany, the western French
peninsula. Evolution of the words The meanings of Britain and
British have evolved over time and as they have gained political
significance. In 325 BC the Greek Pytheas of Massalia visited a
group of islands which he called Pretaniké, the principal ones
being Albionon (Albion) and Ierne (Erin). (The records of this
visit date from much more recent times, so there is room for
these details to be disputed.) To linguists, this suggests the
Brythonic inhabitants called