Derivation

noreply@blogger.com (Farheen@eBizTech) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Umbrella is another synonym for the term parasol, which was first used as a protection against the scorching heat of the sun, "para" meaning stop or shield and "sol" meaning sun. The word "umbrella" has evolved from the Latin "umbella" (an "umbel" is a flat-topped rounded flower) or "umbra," meaning "shaded."

In Britain, umbrellas are sometimes called "gamps" after the character Mrs. Gamp in the Charles Dickens novel Martin Chuzzlewit, because she was known for often carrying an umbrella

Umbrella

noreply@blogger.com (Farheen@eBizTech) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:13:00 +0000

An umbrella or parasol (also called a brolly, rainshade, sunshade, gamp or bumbershoot) is a canopy designed to protect against rain or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun; umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain. Often the difference is the material; some parasols are not waterproof. Parasols are often meant to be fixed to one point and often used with patio tables or other outdoor furniture. Umbrellas are almost exclusively hand-held portable devices; however, parasols can also be hand-held. Umbrellas can be held as fashion accessories.

The word umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra, meaning shade or shadow (the Latin word, in turn, derives from the Ancient Greek ómbros [όμβρος].) Brolly is a slang word for umbrella, used often in Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa; Bumbershoot is a fanciful Americanism from the late 19th century