Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • The capital and largest city of Nova Scotia, Canada, in the south-central part of the province on the Atlantic Ocean. Founded by the British in 1749, it served as an important naval base in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
  • A town of northeast England northeast of Manchester. It is an industrial center.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun An industrial town in Yorkshire England, 20km south-east of Leeds
  • proper noun Capital city of Nova Scotia, Canada.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun provincial capital and largest city of Nova Scotia

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Halifax is believed to be a descendant of Old English hāliġfeax (literally "holy hair"). The town is said to have received the name from the fact that the hair of a murdered virgin was hung up on a tree in the neighborhood, which became a resort of pilgrims. Compare also Fairfax.

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Examples

  • HALIFAX -- The Prime Minister's Office says published reports suggesting Stephen Harper will pay a visit to Halifax today are wrong.

    RUMINT as news 2007

  • Settle's was of course a mercenary pen, and it is amusing to note that after ridiculing Halifax here he was quite prepared to publish, fourteen years later, _Sacellum Apollinare: a Funeral Poem to the Memory of that Great Statesman, George Late Marquiss of Halifax_, and on this count his place among Pope's Dunces seems merited.

    Anti-Achitophel (1682) Three Verse Replies to Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden Elkanah Settle 1686

  • HALIFAX - After a six-month mission, HMCS Fredericton returned to Halifax today.

    CTV News RSS Feed 2010

  • HALIFAX (CP) - The federal government was wrong to put next month's G-7 summit in Halifax because the city needs too many government-funded fixups, says a national taxpayers 'lobby group.

    Liblogs.ca latest blog entries 2010

  • HALIFAX - Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip received a royal salute Tuesday as they boarded the frigate HMCS St. John's in Halifax harbour to review the large armada of warships assembled to mark the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy.

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • HALIFAX - An English oak tree was planted on the grounds of Nova Scotia's Government House today in a ceremony honouring the Queen's visit to Halifax.

    CTV News RSS Feed 2010

  • HALIFAX, N.S. - The mayor of Halifax has apologized to the residents and descendants of Africville, a black community that was razed four decades ago.

    Brandon Sun Online - Top Stories 2010

  • HALIFAX - About 200 protesters demonstrated Sunday against this week's upcoming gathering of G8 development ministers in Halifax.

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • HALIFAX - The driver of a car is in custody after leading police on a two-hour chase on several highways around the Halifax area.

    CTV BritishColumbiaHome 2010

  • HALIFAX - About 200 protesters demonstrated Sunday against this week's upcoming gathering of G8 development ministers in Halifax.

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

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