ceylon
n. uncountablen. the former name of the country now called Sri Lanka. You still see this name used today for tea that comes from that region.
n. the official name of the island nation of Sri Lanka until 1972. In modern usage, it persists primarily as a geographical designation for agricultural exports, particularly tea.
He drinks a cup of Ceylon tea every morning.
The history books explain how the island of Ceylon gained independence before eventually changing its name to Sri Lanka.
While the political entity has long been known as Sri Lanka, the branding of Ceylon tea remains a powerful global trademark, protected by strict geographical indication laws.
Borrowed from Portuguese Ceilão, from Old French Seilan (Marco Polo), from Persian سیلان (saylān), ultimately from Pali sīhaḷa, from Sanskrit सिंहल (siṃhala). Doublet of Sinhala.
Used as a proper noun to refer to the historical state or as a modifier for products like tea and cinnamon.