Pyrenees

Meanings

1. The mountain range separating Spain from France, inhabited by Basques in the west, Occitans in the centre-north, Aragonese in the centre-south, and Catalans in the east.
2. A wine-producing region and local government area (Shire of Pyrenees) in Victoria, Australia.

Etymology

From Middle English Pireneies, partly from Middle French Pyrenees and partly from Latin Pȳrēnaeī (montēs) (literally “Pyrenean (mountains)”), plural of Pȳrēnaeus (“Pyrenean”), from Ancient Greek Πυρηναῖος (Purēnaîos), from Πῡρήνη (Pūrḗnē, “Pyrene”, literally “fruit-stone”) + -αῖος (-aîos). According to mythology, Pyrene was a daughter of King Bebryx who was loved or violated by Heracles; after fleeing into the wilderness and dying, she was buried by him, and the Pyrenees were said to be named after her.