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Calpe

Calpe

9.9
An ancient name for Gibraltar, the rocky point at Spain's southern tip once called a Pillar of Hercules
  • proper noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : Calpe
  • The ancient city of Calpe overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar.
  • Espasa-Calpe

Examples

  • "House on the Cliff" is in the town of Calpe in Alicante province, Spain.

    Blog text (12)
  • Tablas poticas. Ed. Benito Brancaforte. Madrid: Espasa Calpe, 1975.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The town of Calpe is famous for its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Historically, Calpe was regarded as one of the Pillars of Hercules.

Synonyms

Gibraltar
vsCalpe
14 5.2

A small British territory on a rock at Spain's south tip that guards the entrance to the Mediterranean

is the ancient name rather than the modern political name
5.9

A large rock at Spain's south tip that belongs to Britain and controls access to the Mediterranean

is the ancient name used for the same promontory

Surface Forms

Calpe main

Etymology

The word Calpe was the ancient name for the Rock of Gibraltar. A helpful idea is that the name comes from an old word for 'rock' or 'cliff', so Calpe keeps the image of that tall sea rock known as one of the 'Pillars of Hercules'.