Refers to Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, or things named after him.
From Portuguese Magalhães, possibly from Latin Magellanus. The family name became synonymous with exploration and navigation after Ferdinand Magellan's historic voyage (1519-1522).
Ironically, Magellan never completed the circumnavigation himself - he was killed in the Philippines halfway through the journey. Only 18 of his original 237 crew members made it back to Spain, making it one of history's most costly successful expeditions.
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