# "The Hign Seas" - Origin

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hign-seas-origin/234438>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hign-seas-origin/234438 "2004-03-15T15:52:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hign-seas-origin/234438/1 "2004-03-15T15:52:55Z")

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why do we call the high seas the high seas ?

Is it anything to do with the height of the waves and where are the low seas … near the low countries ?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hign-seas-origin/234438/2 "2004-03-16T02:31:25Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> _High seas_ first attested c.1380, with sense (also found in the L. cognate) of “deep” as well as “tall.”

From [here](http://www.etymonline.com/h4etym.htm).