WikiWord

English

Alcatraz

/ˈælkətɹæz/ · name

Meaning

  1. Ellipsis of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, a famous former U.S. federal prison, on the island.
  2. An island in San Francisco Bay California, United States, formerly the site of a famous prison; in full, Alcatraz Island.
  3. Ellipsis of Fort Alcatraz, a U.S. coastal defense fort, predecessor of the prison.

Etymology / origin

From Spanish Isla de los Alcatraces (“island of gannets”), named by Juan Manuel de Ayala, an explorer of San Francisco Bay.

Sources

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