Zemblan, n. & adj.

zemblan
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zemblan_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# † Zemblannoun & adjective

## Earlier version

- Zembl(i)an, a. and n. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the word Zemblan mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word Zemblan. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1800s.

### Where does the word Zemblan come from?

Earliest known use

late 1600s

The earliest known use of the word Zemblan is in the late 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zemblan is from 1674, in P. M. de la Martinière's New Voyage into Northern Countries.

From a proper name, combined with an English element; modelled on a French lexical item.

Etymons: proper name Nova Zembla, ‑an suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zelatrice, n. 1874–
2. zelatrix, n. 1865–
3. Zeldovich, n. 1956–
4. Zelig, n. 1984–
5. Zelig-like, adj. 1983–
6. zelkova, n. 1836–
7. zelotypia, n. 1566–
8. zelotyping, adj. a1660
9. zelotypist, n.?1632
10. zelotypy, n. 1623–1794
11. Zemblan, n. & adj.1674–1805
12. Zemblian, n. & adj. 1674–1796
13. zemi, n. 1555–
14. zemiistic, adj. 1907–
15. zemirah, n. 1767–
16. zemni, n. 1775–
17. Zemsky Sobor, n. 1877–
18. zemstvo, n. 1865–
19. zemstvoist, n. 1904–
20. Zen, n. & adj. 1727–
21. Zen, v. 1968–

## Etymology

### Summary

From a proper name, combined with an English element; modelled on a French lexical item.
Etymons: proper name Nova Zembla, ‑an suffix.
< Zembla (in Nova Zembla, the name of an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean: see note) + ‑an suffix, after French Zemblien (1671 in the passage translated in quot. 1674).

Compare Zemblian n., Zemblian adj.…
< Zembla (in Nova Zembla, the name of an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean: see note) + ‑an suffix, after French Zemblien (1671 in the passage translated in quot. 1674).

Compare Zemblian n., Zemblian adj.

### Notes

The name of Nova Zembla apparently shows a variant (with an epenthetic ‑b‑) of Novaya Zemlya (now the usual form in English), itself < the Russian place name Novaja Zemlja (already in Old Russian) < novyj new (see new adj.) + zemlja land, earth.
The name of the archipelago is attested in English from the 16th cent.; compare:

1. a1584

   > This land, said he [sc. Loshak the Russian trader], is called Noua Zembla, that is to say, the New land.

   S. Borough in R. Hakluyt, Principall Navigations (1589) ii. 318

## Meaning & use

Obsolete.

1. noun
   1. 1674–1794
      A native or inhabitant of Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in northern Russia.
      1. 1674

         > We descryed..a Zemblane [French Zemblien] in a Canoe.

         translation of P. M. de la Martinière, New Voyage into Northern Countries 122
      2. 1759

         > He has not said a word of the Russians, the Tartars, the Samoiedes, the Zemblans.

         Critical Review October 289
      3. 1794

         > Every thing in the appearance of this people [sc. the Esquimaux], denotes them to be the same with the Laplanders, the Zemblans.., and the Tartars.

         S. Williams, Natural & Civil History of Vermont viii. 195
      1. Albanian c1400–
         A native or inhabitant of Albania, a country once located in the eastern Caucasus, in the regions that are now Azerbaijan and the southern part of…
      2. Georgian?a1425–
         A native or inhabitant of Georgia, a south-eastern European country situated on the east coast of the Black Sea.
      3. Armenian?1520–
         A native or inhabitant of Armenia; a person of Armenian descent.
      4. Moldave 1552–1856
         = Moldavian, n.
      5. Permian 1555–
         An inhabitant of the Perm region of Russia; spec. a member of the Komi or Udmurt people or a speaker of a Permic language.
      6. Anatolian 1588–
         An inhabitant or native of Anatolia, a region comprising the westernmost peninsula of Asia, bounded by the Black Sea, the Aegean, and the…
      7. Podolian 1603–
         A native or inhabitant of Podolia, a region in present-day south-western Ukraine.
      8. Lithuanian 1607–
         A native of Lithuania; also, the Lithuanian language, being one of the Lettic group of Aryan languages.
      9. Livonian 1652
         A native or inhabitant of Livonia, a historical region around the Gulf of Riga, corresponding to most of modern Latvia and Estonia.
      10. White Russian 1659–
          A native or inhabitant of various East Slavic areas formerly known collectively as White Russia. In later use chiefly: a native or inhabitant of an…
      11. Black Russian 1661–
          A native or inhabitant of the historical region of Black Ruthenia, in the western part of modern Belarus. Now historical and rare.
      12. Zemblan 1674–1794
          A native or inhabitant of Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in northern Russia.
      13. Zemblian 1674–1796
          A native or inhabitant of Novaya Zemlya; = Zemblan, n.
      14. Ukrainian 1694–
          A person from, or living in, Ukraine; a person of Ukrainian descent.
      15. Siberian 1719–
          A native of Siberia.
      16. Ukrainer 1744–
          A person from, or living in, Ukraine; a person of Ukrainian descent; = Ukrainian, n. A.1.
      17. Kurile 1764–
          A native or inhabitant of the Kurile islands.
      18. Crimean 1768–
          A native or inhabitant of the Crimea.
      19. Great Russian 1783–
          A native of the East Slavonic-speaking region excluding Belorussia (Belarus) and Ukraine (sometimes referred to historically as ‘Russia proper’); a…
      20. Little Russian 1799–
          A native or inhabitant of Ukraine, a Ukrainian; a Ruthenian. Cf. Malo-Russian, n., and also Great Russian, n., White Russian, n. A.1.
      21. Bessarabian 1835–
          An inhabitant of Bessarabia.
      22. Belorussian 1872–
          A native or inhabitant of Belarus; = Belarusian, n. B.1. Cf. White Russian, n. A.1a.
      23. Sibiriak 1903–
          A Siberian descended from European Russian settlers. Also attributive or as adj.
      24. Latvian 1941–
          A native or inhabitant of Latvia.
      25. Belarusian 1951–
          A native or inhabitant of Belarus. Cf. Belorussian, n. A.1, White Russian, n. A.1a.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. adjective
   1. 1729–1805
      Of or relating to Novaya Zemlya; (hence) arctic, northern.
      1. 1729

         > From yon Zemblan Rock his Crest he shrouds.

         R. Savage, Wanderer iv. 81
      2. 1753

         > Cold, like Zemblan savage drest, Who boldly bares his hardy breast.

         T. Warton in Union: Select Scots & English Poems 82
      3. 1767

         > How doubly sharp it blows, From Zemblan and Tartarian coasts!

         W. Harte, Amaranth 64
      4. 1805

         > Lybian sands, or Zemblan snows.

         M. A. Shee, Rhymes on Art i. 7
      1. Arctic c1540–
         Geography. Designating the north polar region of the earth, which comprises the Arctic Ocean and the northernmost parts of Asia, Europe, and North…
      2. Zemblan 1729–1805
         Of or relating to Novaya Zemlya; (hence) arctic, northern.
      3. north polar 1744–
         Of or relating to a north pole, esp. the earth's North Pole.
      4. Zemblian a1761–89
         Of or relating to Novaya Zemlya; = Zemblan, adj.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1600s
   Zemblane
2. 1600s–1800s
   Zemblan

Zemblan, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.

Zemblan, n. & adj. was last modified in September 2024.