English
Middle East
From middle + East formed in English, modeled on Far East and Near East.
Proto-Germanic *midjō ‘middle’
Proto-Germanic *midlą
Old English middel ‘middle’
Middle English myddel ‘the middle or centre of something’
English middle
Proto-Germanic *austraz ‘east’
Proto-Germanic *austrą
Proto-West Germanic *austr ‘eastern’
Old English ēast ‘the east’
Middle English est ‘east’
English East
The story
First use appears c. 1876.
Today it means
name The geopolitical region at the intersection of Asia, Africa and Europe, comprising West Asia excluding the South Caucasus and additionally including all of Egypt and all of Turkey.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle East