Esquimalt

[ ih-skwahy-mawlt ]

noun

1. a Royal Canadian naval base and seaport in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island: a suburb of Victoria, the provincial capital.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Esquimalt¹

First recorded in 1875–80; an English approximation of Esquimalt (a Coast Salish language) x̣ʷiméɫǝɫ “place of gradual shoaling”

Example Sentences

Nearby is Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary, a saltwater lagoon and a birder’s paradise.

From Seattle Times

Tani Rhoads, of Vancouver Island, first encountered a crow in a nest while walking her dogs at Esquimalt Lagoon.

From Seattle Times

Lewis was relaxing at the Esquimalt Lagoon one day when he saw McGnarly the Beach Ent, created by Alex Witcombe for a Colwood festival.

From Seattle Times

She enlisted in her third year of medical school and graduated to become a fleet medical officer in Esquimalt, B.C., not far from where she lives now.

From New York Times

Our goal was to reach the artsy resort town of Sooke before night fell, but we decided to backtrack in hopes of finding Esquimalt Lagoon.

From New York Times