the Americas

1. North America, South America, and the West Indies, considered together

   also the Americas
2. North America
3. ☆ the United States of America

Origin: ModL, name assoc. (1507) by Martin Waldseemüller (1470?-1522?), Ger cosmographer, with Americus Vespucius, Latinized form of Amerigo Vespucci, but < ? Sp Amerrique, name of a mountain range in Nicaragua, used by early explorers for the newly discovered lands < ? AmInd