2867: Cyprus and Cypress pt. 2 Oct 26, 2024

The Greek word kύπρος (kúpros) is not by itself a confusing term, but it pops up in lots of interesting places. Κύπρος is the Greek name for the island of Cyprus, which is the same name as its had since antiquity. Famous for its being the largest copper producer in the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, this is the source of the metal’s name in Greek and eventually in English. Of course, it is also the name for the cypress tree, differentiated in spelling in English from the Island for clarity, but pronounced the same. 

Over the years, some have tried to connect the name to different religious practices of the Phoenicians or others, but even if this is true, this is not the source of the name of the island.