Staten

/ˈsteɪtən/ proper noun

Definition

Most commonly refers to Staten Island, a borough of New York City. The name means 'states' in Dutch, referring to the Dutch States General.

Etymology

From Dutch 'Staten,' meaning 'states,' originally 'Staten Eylandt' (States Island), named after the Dutch States General. The island was named by Dutch explorer Henry Hudson in 1609 to honor the governing body of the Dutch Republic.

Kelly Says

Staten Island's name is a linguistic fossil from New York's Dutch colonial period, preserving the memory of the Dutch States General in modern American geography. It's one of the few remnants of Dutch political terminology still used daily by millions of New Yorkers.

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