ENGLISH
REFERENCE

douglas

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈdəɡɫəs// dou·glas

n. a common English name for a man. It is also used as a family name and for several places around the world.

n. a masculine given name or surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic elements for 'dark' and 'water'. When used as a proper name, it is always capitalised.


SIMPLE

Douglas is starting his new job on Monday.

CONTEXTUAL

The local library was named after Frederick Douglas to honour his contributions to the community.

COMPLEX

While Douglas remains a traditional choice for a first name, it is frequently encountered as a surname in historical texts regarding the Scottish clans of the Lowlands.

Origin

From a place name, Scottish Gaelic dubh (“black”) + glais (“stream”).

Usage

Always capitalised as a proper name.

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