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Glite Dictionary
Old Line State

Old Line State

7.7
A nickname for the United States state of Maryland
  • proper noun
  • /oʊld laɪn steɪt/
translation icon : Estado de la Línea Antigua
  • Maryland, also known as the Old Line State, has a rich history.

Examples

  • Tourists often visit the Old Line State to see its historic cities and beautiful Chesapeake Bay.

  • She's moving to the Old Line State for a new job in Baltimore.

  • The Old Line State played a significant role during the Revolutionary War.

  • The Old Line State is famous for its blue crabs.

  • Many famous battles were fought in the Old Line State during the Civil War.

  • The Old Line State, known for its seafood, hosts an annual crab festival.

  • Visitors to the Old Line State can explore its picturesque waterfront and historic sites.

Surface Forms

Old Line State main

Morphology

old + Line + state

This is a conventional, culture-specific nickname referring to Maryland (the historical 'Maryland Line' regiments) rather than a literal combination of 'old' + 'line' + 'state'. A B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not be able to infer this proper-name, historical reference without prior cultural or historical knowledge, so the expression is not compositional.

Etymology

Old Line State comes from the American Revolution when Maryland soldiers, called the 'Maryland Line', often held the fighting line while others ran away. That strong image of a steady line became linked to the state, so the name today means 'Maryland'.