Koln

Co·logne  (k-ln) also Köln (kln)

A city of western Germany on the Rhine River north of Bonn. It was a Roman settlement called Colonia Agrippina after a.d. 50 and passed under Frankish control in the 5th century. During the 15th century it flourished as a member of the Hanseatic League. Population: 990,000.

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co·logne  (k-ln)

n.

A scented liquid made of alcohol and various fragrant oils. Also called eau de cologne.

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[Short for cologne (water), translation of French (eau de) Cologne, after Cologne.]

Word History: The word cologne, denoting toilet water, is from Cologne, the French (and English) name of the German city Köln, where cologne has been made since the beginning of the 18th century. The first use of cologne for toilet water is recorded in English in 1814, with the word being used in the compound cologne water, a translation of eau de Cologne, the French name for this liquid. The ultimate source of the word lies in the history of the city, which stretches back to the Roman Empire: its Latin name was Colnia, meaning "colony."

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Koln - a commercial center and river port in western Germany on the Rhine River; flourished during the 15th century as a member of the Hanseatic League Cologne Hanseatic League - a commercial and defensive confederation of free cities in northern Germany and surrounding areas; formed in 1241 and most influential in the 14th century when it included over 100 towns and functioned as an independent political power; the last official assembly was held in 1669 Deutschland, FRG, Germany, Federal Republic of Germany - a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990