Bileez

Belizean Creole

Bileez

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish Belice (attested since 1677) as the name of the Belize River, sometimes said to be from Mayan/Mopan Maya beliz (“muddy water(s)”), although there is no evidence for such a word. The old suggestion that it could be from a corrupted Spanish pronunciation of the surname of Scottish buccaneer Peter Wallace (via pronunciation as *Valis, then *Balise), is now generally considered to be folk etymology; the popularity of the legend persists.

Proper noun

Bileez

1. Belize (a country in Central America)

Derived terms

• Bileezyan