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Glite Dictionary
Scilly Islands

Scilly Islands

1 5.8
A group of small islands off the southwest coast of England with mild weather and beautiful scenery
  • proper noun
: Islas Scilly
  • We took a ferry from Penzance to the Scilly Islands for our summer holiday.

Examples

  • The Scilly Islands are famous for their mild climate and stunning scenery.

  • Legend says that pirates once hid their treasure on the Scilly Islands.

  • The Scilly Islands are a beautiful place to visit.

  • Have you ever been to the Scilly Islands?

  • The Scilly Islands are renowned for their unique flora and fauna, attracting nature lovers from all over.

  • Many people dream of visiting the Scilly Islands to enjoy their tranquil beaches and picturesque landscapes.

  • The annual sailing regatta around the Scilly Islands draws competitors and spectators who love maritime events.

Synonyms

Isles of Scilly
vsScilly Islands
1 7.1

A group of small islands off the southwest coast of England

adds a historical reputation as a smuggler and pirate haven

Surface Forms

Scilly Islands main

Morphology

Scilly + island

This is a toponym: knowing 'island' gives only the generic sense of land surrounded by water, but the specific referent 'Scilly' is an arbitrary proper name with no compositional meaning. A B1 learner who knows the constituents would not be able to derive the geographic location or the historical/archipelago sense from the parts alone, so the expression is not transparently interpretable.

Etymology

The name Scilly Islands may come from an old Cornish word meaning 'shells'. Because the islands have many small rocks and shelly beaches, the name describes how they look today.