Balkans

The story

Of Turkic origin; compare Turkish balkan (“wooded mountain range”). Probably unrelated to balk (“ridge of land”).

First known use, by meaning

• 19th c. A cultural region and peninsula in Southeastern Europe, roughly equivalent to the area covered by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, sometimes including Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovenia, and European Turkey.