Red Sea
Preserved but no longer current.
So called by the Romans (Mare rubrum) and by the Greeks, as a translation of the Semitic name, the reason for which is un- certain; also formerly called the "Sedgy Sea," because of the seaweed which collects there.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Red Sea” mean?
So called by the Romans (Mare rubrum) and by the Greeks, as a translation of the Semitic name, the reason for which is un- certain; also formerly called the "Sedgy Sea," because of the seaweed which collects there.
Is “Red Sea” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.