Umbrella - Etymology

Etymology

"Parasol" from "para" meaning to stop or to shield and "sol" meaning sun. The word "umbrella" evolved from the Latin "umbella" (an "umbel" is a flat-topped rounded flower) or "umbra", meaning "shaded."

In Britain, umbrellas are sometimes called "gamps" after the character Mrs. Gamp in the Charles Dickens novel Martin Chuzzlewit. Mrs. Gamp's character was well known for carrying an umbrella.

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