Question #110091. Asked by flem-ish.
Last updated Jan 18 2017.
BRY2K
Answer has 3 votes
BRY2K 17 year member
3707 replies
Answer has 3 votes.
Perhaps the island of Micra Bretannia.
The Roman geographer Ptolemy called the larger island Megale Brettania (Great Britain), and the smaller island of Ireland Micra Bretannia (Little Britain). Hence, originally, the term Great Britain referred to the largest island in the British Isles, similar to the Canary Islands where the third largest island is called Gran Canaria (probably thought to be the largest in Roman times), and the largest of the Comoros is Grande Comore..
Response last updated by CmdrK on Jan 18 2017.
Oct 23 2009, 6:20 PM
flem-ish
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flem-ish 24 year member
894 replies
Answer has 3 votes.
Right, but strangely enough Brittanny, which is not part of the British Isles, also was given the name of Little Britain at a certain moment in history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany
Oct 23 2009, 6:50 PM
Zbeckabee
Answer has 5 votes
Currently Best Answer
Zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
Answer has 5 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
Interestingly enough...Little Britain is a literal translation of An Bhreatain Bheag, the Irish language name for Wales.