quebec

What it means

1. uncountableusuallyA province in eastern Canada. Capital: Quebec City. Largest city: Montreal.

   And of course, in July 1967 De Gaulle did come to Canada. He made his speeches in Quebec, was enthusiastically received on the Chemin du Roy, shouted “Vive le Quebec libre” in Montreal and, on learning of the reaction of the Canadian government, returned to Paris without going to Ottawa.

   1996, Eldon Black, “Prologue: 1960-1967”, in Direct Intervention: Canada-France Relations, 1967-1974, Carleton University Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 9

   Synonyms: Province of Quebec

2. uncountableusuallyThe capital city of the province of Quebec, Canada.

   Synonyms: Quebec City, Québec City

3. Other places elsewhere:
   1. uncountableusuallyA village in the town of Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut, United States.

In a sentence

And of course, in July 1967 De Gaulle did come to Canada. He made his speeches in Quebec, was enthusiastically received on the Chemin du Roy, shouted “Vive le Quebec libre” in Montreal and, on learning of the reaction of the Canadian government, returned to Paris without going to Ottawa.

1996, Eldon Black, “Prologue: 1960-1967”, in Direct Intervention: Canada-France Relations, 1967-1974, Carleton University Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 9

Where it comes from

1. Algonquinkepék“(it) narrows”
2. FrenchQuébec
3. EnglishQuebec

From French Québec, from Algonquin kepék (“(it) narrows”). Cognate with Mi'kmaq gepe'g (“plug”), and Mi'kmaq Kepinkek. It originally referred to the area around Quebec City where the Saint Lawrence River narrows to a cliff-lined gap. The name of the city preceded that of the province.