# Spanish Main? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-main/128218 "2002-09-13T03:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-main/128218/1 "2002-09-13T03:46:07Z")
What is meant by the phrase “Spanish Main”? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-main/128218/2 "2002-09-13T03:59:01Z")
From [www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com) (the Merriam-Webster dictionary) Main Entry: Spanish Main Pronunciation: 'mAn Usage: geographical name 1 the mainland of Spanish America especially along N coast of S. America 2 the Caribbean Sea & adjacent waters especially at the time when region was infested with pirates ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-main/128218/3 "2002-09-13T18:33:47Z")
The master addresses this very issue! [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_017a.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_017a.html) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-main/128218/4 "2002-09-13T21:25:42Z")
The Spanish themselves of course called it _Tierra Firme_ (the mainland), to distinguish it from the Caribbean Islands. - Colibri, posting from the Spanish Main. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-main/128218/5 "2002-09-13T21:39:36Z")
The Main? In Spain? Falls mainly on the plain Or so I heard it! And I don’t doubt it. The Main in Spain is mainly in the plain. Sorry. ;j