Balmoral

See also: balmoral

English

Etymology 1

Castle name first appears in writing as Bouchmorale in 1451. Formed from a combination of Old Irish both (“hut, bothy, cot; cabin”) and an uncertain second element. The second element may be Pictish, equivalent to Welsh mawr (“large”) + Welsh iâl (“pastureland”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bælˈmɒɹəl/

• Audio (southern England)

  (file)

• (Scotland) IPA^(key): [baɫˈmɔɹɫ̩]
• Rhymes: -ɒɹəl

Proper noun

Balmoral

1. A castle and associated estate in Aberdeenshire council area, Scotland, that is a private residence of the British sovereign (OS grid ref NO2595).
   • 1947 January and February, O. S. Nock, “"The Aberdonian" in Wartime”, in Railway Magazine, page 8:

     As we climbed the Marykirk Bank Ogilvie spoke of the passes leading over to Deeside, and of the Royal deer forests around Balmoral; then, with mingled pride and modesty, he added, "I've driven the King seven times."

2. A suburb of Galashiels, Scottish Borders council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NT4836).

Derived terms

• Balmorality
• balmoral

Etymology 2

From Irish Baile Mhóireil, baile + mór, from Old Irish mór (“big, great”)).

Proper noun

Balmoral

1. A suburban area in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Further reading

• Balmoral Castle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Balmoral (District Electoral Area) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia