The name Brazil is a shortened form of Terra do Brasil ("Land of Brazil"), a reference to the brazilwood tree. The name was given in the early 16th century to the territories leased to the merchant consortium led by See more

The land of what became Brazil was first called Ilha de Vera Cruz ("Island of the True Cross") by the Portuguese captain Pedro Álvares Cabral See more

The connection to the brazilwood harvest is also found in the demonym for the country. In the Portuguese language, an inhabitant of Brazil is … See more

• List of Brazil state name etymologies
• History of Brazil
• Culture of Brazil
• Brazil See more

According to tradition, before colonisation, the native name of the land was the one given by the local indigenous peoples, Pindorama [pt] (Tupi for "Land of the Palms"). However, exact … See more

From 1502 to 1512, the Portuguese claim on Brazil was leased by the crown to a Lisbon merchant consortium led by Fernão de Loronha for … See more

While the brazilwood root of Brazil is generally accepted, it has been occasionally challenged. Among the alternative … See more