Obs. Also Britanie, -annie, -anny, Brittany. [ad. L. Britannia.]
1. Britain, Great Britain.
1579. E. K., in Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., Sept., 751. Gloss., King Edgare … reigned here in Britanye.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., I. ii. (1591), 2. Brittany al conquered, not al retained.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. iii. 52. All Britany doth burne in armes bright.
1608. Hieron, Defence, II. 79. The Lords inheritance in this Ile of Britanie.
1611. Guillim, Heraldrie, III. xvii. 162. By whose glorious issue, Great Britanny now enioieth the height of Glorie and Happinesse.
1662. Gunning, Lent Fast, 35. Lucius, first Christian King of Britanny.
2. The Roman provinces of Britannia Prima and Secunda.
1658. W. Burton, Itin. Anton., 85. York … the more antient Metropolis of the Diocese of the Britainnies.
3. The French province of Bretagne: ‘Little Britany’; commonly spelt Brittany.
