"the sea between southern Europe and northern Africa," c. 1400, from Late Latin Mediterraneum mare "Mediterranean Sea" (7c.), from Latin mediterraneus "midland;" the original sense being of "sea in the middle of the earth," from medius "middle" (see medial (adj.)) + terra "land, earth" (see terrain). The Old English name was Wendel-s?, so called for the Vandals, Germanic tribe that settled on the southwest coast of it after the fall of Rome. The noun meaning "a person of Mediterranean race" is from 1888.
例文
1. Britain bakes in a Mediterranean heatwave.
地中海の熱波がイギリスを炙っている。
2. Mediterranean oat held to be progenitor of modern cultivated oat.
地中海地方のオートムギは、現代のオートムギ栽培の祖先と考えられている。
3.An American naval force is showing the flag in various Mediterranean ports.