Magellan
(məˈgɛlən)
The Eng. form of the name of a famous Portuguese navigator, Fernão de Magalhães (?1470–1521), the first European discoverer who passed through the channel now called the Straits of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean; used attrib. (or in possessive) = Magellanic.
| 1638 J. Chilmead Treat. Globes ii. vii. (Hakl. Soc.) 67 Our mariners used to call them Magellanes Clouds. 1671 Ogilby Amer. 474 marg., Description of the Magellan Straights. 1696 Phillips (ed. 5), Magellan's Clouds, two small Clouds of the same colour with Via Lactea, not far distant from the South Pole. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast v. 9 The Magellan Clouds consist of three small nebulæ in the southern part of the heavens. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Magellan Jacket, a name given to a watch-coat with a hood, worn in high latitudes. |
b. = ‘Magellan's Straits’, ? nonce-use.
| 1787 Burns To W. Simpson vii, Or whare wild-meeting oceans boil Besouth Magellan. |
Hence † Mageˈllanian a. = next.
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 1. The Magellanian Clouds. |