I Googled “alcazar.” It’s an Islamic castle or fortress in Spain’s Iberian Peninsula built during Muslim rule centuries ago. Alcatraz Island, the former federal prison in the San Francisco Bay, is a literal fortress, and the island was discovered by a Spanish explorer, who I figured named Alcatraz after the word “alcazar.”
But it was sctually derived from the archaic Spanish word “alcatraces,” which means pelican. So Alcatraz Island means “isle of pelicans,” not a fortress.
(Exactly 76 words)
Written for Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt, where the word is “alcazar” in exactly 76 words.
This, That, and the Other 
It’s maybe a false cognate , which often happens
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Possibly!
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Interesting! Thanks for the history lesson 🙂
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I did see a white dot – atop the chimney………
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Very interesting.
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Wow, so glad for the lesson
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While we were in Kennebunkport, I was sure I saw Pelicans on the rocks. I thought they were strictly southern birds, but as it turns out, nope. There are two types of pelicans in the northeast and probably a bunch of other out near you. Who’d have guessed it?
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I have no idea if west coast pelicans are different from east coast pelicans.
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This post caught my attention because I happened to wear a Property of Alcatraz Swim Team t-shirt today lol. Didn’t know it meant “isle of pelicans.” Thanks for teaching us something 🙂
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Happy to help you learn something new!
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And there you have it. 🙂
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Interesting! I never knew this! ❤
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I feel informed now… THANKS!
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