Miles
See also: miles and mīlēs
English
Alternative forms
- Myles
Etymology
From Old French given name Milo, of problematic origin, possibly from an unknown Germanic element, or a short form of Slavic names beginning with mil- "grace, favor". The English form is associated by folk etymology with Latin mīles (“soldier”).As a surname, it is also derived from a Middle English [Term?] form of Michael.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /maɪlz/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -aɪlz
Proper noun
Miles (countable and uncountable, plural Miles or Mileses)
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
- 1858 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Courtship of Miles Standish:
- Clad in doublet and hose, and boots of Cordovan leather, / Strode, with a martial air, Miles Standish the Puritan Captain.
- 2011, Ali Smith, There but for the, Hamish Hamilton, →ISBN, page 191:
- Just one thing, if I may, Mark said. It's Miles, his name. Not Milo.
Yeah, I know, Anna's always going on about that too. But Milo's better, Milo's got something about it, hasn't it? the man said. It's catchier. It's catching on round the camp, Milo, where Miles sounds a bit, well, wet. A bit middle class, you know?
- 1858 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Courtship of Miles Standish:
- A surname originating as a patronymic.
- A number of places in the United States:
- A minor city in Jackson County, Iowa.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Orange County, North Carolina.
- A township in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
- A minor city in Runnels County, Texas.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Mathews County, Virginia.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Lincoln County, Washington.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Pendleton County, West Virginia.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Porterfield, Marinette County, Wisconsin.
- A town in Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.
Derived terms
- Miles City
References
- Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges: A Concise Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press 2001.
Anagrams
- Imels, Liems, Selim, limes, milse, misle, slime, smile