🌊 A Canadian bay 🎸 A British musician

James Bay

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A large shallow bay at the southern end of Hudson Bay between western Quebec and northeast Ontario in Canada

proper noun

: Bahía de James

Many migratory birds stop at James Bay during their long journeys.

Examples

The waters of James Bay are often surrounded by ice in the winter months.
Researchers conducted environmental studies in the waters of James Bay.
The Cree have lived along the shores of James Bay for centuries.
Winter ice covers much of James Bay by late November.
James Bay is known for its stunning natural beauty.
Have you ever visited James Bay?
Fishermen often set out early in the morning to catch fish in James Bay.

Surface Forms

James Bay main

Morphology

James + Bay

This is a proper name: knowing the words 'James' (a personal name) and 'bay' (a geographic feature) does not allow a learner to infer that the phrase refers to a British singer-songwriter. Named entities are arbitrary and can refer to people, places, or brands in unpredictable ways (e.g., James Bay is also a geographic location), so the meaning is not derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

James Bay is a large, shallow bay in northern Canada. Its name probably comes from an English sailor or explorer called James who sailed those waters long ago, so the name links a person (James) to the body of water (Bay) and helps you remember it is a coastal place.