midland
UK[ˈmɪdlənd]US[ˈmɪdlənd]
n
The central part of a country, away from the coast or borders.
n
(Midlands) A region in central England.
Morpheme Breakdown
mid
land
mid
middle
land
area
Etymology
The word 'midland' is a transparent compound formed from two ancient Germanic roots. The first element, 'mid', descends from the Proto-Germanic midja-, meaning "middle," which itself originates from the Proto-Indo-European root medhyo- with the same central meaning. The second element, 'land', comes from Proto-Germanic landą, denoting "land" or "ground." The compound 'midland' entered English directly from Old English 'middelland', literally signifying "middle land." Its logic is purely descriptive, designating the interior region of a country, distinct from its coastal or border areas. The capitalized plural form, 'the Midlands', specifically refers to the central counties of England, solidifying this geographical concept as a proper name for that region.
Analysis
Structure: mid (middle) + land (area)
'mid' is from Old English 'midd', meaning "middle," of Germanic origin. 'land' is from Old English 'land, lond', meaning "ground, soil, territory," of Germanic origin.
Examples
The city is located in the agricultural midland of the country.
Birmingham is a major industrial city in the Midlands.
They traveled from the coast to the midland plains.