Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
ancient name for Brittany, from Gallo-Roman Are-mor-ica, literally "before the sea," with a Celtic prefix meaning "before" (compare Old Irish ar) + mare "sea" (see mere (n.)).
Wikipedia
Armorica or Aremorica is the name given in ancient times to the part of Gaul between the Seine and Loire rivers, that includes the Brittany peninsula, extending inland to an indeterminate point and down the Atlantic coast. The toponym is based on the Gaulish phrase are-mori "on/at [the] sea", made into the Gaulish place name Aremorica (*are-mor-ika ) "Place by the Sea". The suffix -ika was first used to create adjectival forms and then, names (see regions such as Pays d'Ouche from Utica and Perche from Pertica). The original designation was vague, including a large part of what became Normandy in the 10th century and, in some interpretations, the whole of the coast down to the Garonne river. Later, the term became restricted to Brittany.
In Breton (which belongs to the Brythonic branch of the Insular Celtic languages, along with Welsh and Cornish), "on [the] sea" is war vor (Welsh ar fôr – "f" being voiced, as "v" is in English), though the older form arvor is used to refer to the coastal regions of Brittany, in contrast to argoad (ar "on/at", coad "forest" [Welsh ar goed (coed "trees")]) for the inland regions. These cognate modern usages suggest that the Romans first contacted coastal people in the inland region and assumed that the regional name Aremorica referred to the whole area, both coastal and inland.
Armorica is a card game designed by Eric Vogel, and published in June 2010 by Vainglorious Games in English. Players in Armorica are administrators in the ancient land of Armorica who are trying to convince wealthy Romans to support them and give them prestige.
Armorica may refer to:
- Armorica or Aremorica is the name given in ancient times to the part of Gaul that includes the Brittany peninsula and the territory between the Seine and Loire rivers.
- Armorican terrane
- Armorica Regional Nature Park, (Parc naturel régional d'Armorique, France)
- Armorica (game), a card game created by Eric Vogel.
Usage examples of "armorica".
He raided in Britain and in Armorica, carrying all before him by the might of his warhost.
The land had drained as people fled south, dreaming of Armorica, abandoning even farms on the best land, driven away by the rumored advances of the Saxon raiders in the east and the Picts and Irish in the west and north.
It had always been the plan for Arcadius and Carausias to pool their resources and make for Armorica together.
Sir Bedwyr proposed this plan and many agreed with him, but I disputed, it seeming wiser to take ship and sail across to Armorica, where we might find kinsmen who would see us on the road to Rome.
Not the Oliver of Charlemagne -- but a traitorous Oliver of Armorica, corrupted by a bribe.
Armorica, our own kinsfolk, have visited its northern fishing-grounds yearly, hi their ridiculous craft, while Maeldune of Hibernia, with seventeen followers, less than a hundred years ago, was blown to sea in flimsy skin currachs, and claimed to have reached a large island where grew marvelous nuts with insides white as snow.
To the feeble descendants of Clovis and Charlemagne, the Britons of Armorica refused the customary tribute, subdued the neighboring dioceses of Vannes, Rennes, and Nantes, and formed a powerful, though vassal, state, which has been united to the crown of France.
During a period of five hundred years the tradition of his exploits was preserved, and rudely embellished, by the obscure bards of Wales and Armorica, who were odious to the Saxons, and unknown to the rest of mankind.
Summoned from Armorica to help fight the Vandali, he had at last arrived - just in time to help celebrate the enshrinement of the Grail - and now stood drinking ale and laughing with Arthur and Gwenhwyvar.
For the Carnutes, who, though often harassed had never mentioned peace, submitted and gave hostages: and the other states, which lie in the remotest parts of Gaul, adjoining the ocean, and which are called Armoricae, influenced by the example of the Carnutes, as soon as Fabius arrived with his legions, without delay comply with his command.