English
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman comes from English caiman ‘species of alligatorid’.
- English1500–presentcaiman‘species of alligatorid’
- EnglishtodayGrand Cayman
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- English1500–presentcaiman‘species of alligatorid’
- EnglishtodayGrand Cayman
Made of the words Grand + Cayman
Latin grandis ‘full-grown, great’
Old French grant ‘big, large’
Anglo-Norman graunt
Middle English grand
English Grand
The story
The name of the island is derived from caiman (‘species of alligatorid’). The element grand was added to distinguish the island from its neighbours in the Cayman Islands.
Every English word from English caiman
Today it means
name An island, the largest of the three Cayman Islands.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / English caiman / Grand Cayman