Bileez

Belizean Creole

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish Belice (attested since 1677) as the name of the Belize River, sometimes said to be from Mayan/Mopan Maya beliz (“muddy water(s)”),[1] although there is no evidence for such a word. The old suggestion that it could be from a corrupted Spanish pronunciation of the surname of Scottish buccaneer Peter Wallace (via pronunciation as *Valis, then *Balise), is now generally considered to be folk etymology; the popularity of the legend persists.

Proper noun

Bileez

  1. Belize (an English-speaking country in Central America, formerly called British Honduras)

Derived terms

  • Bileezyan

References

  1. ^ Twigg, Alan (2006) Understanding Belize: A Historical Guide, Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, →ISBN, pages 9–10, 38–45
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