Cathay question

[ItchyFeet2]

Can anyone tell me what Cathay means in Cathay Pacific?

Thanks,

IF2

[BahrainLad]

It's a very very old name for "China."

[ItchyFeet2]

Thanks very much Bahrain Lad

[ManfredvonRichthofen]

here you go


Cathay
Related: Chinese History

(kăthā´) , name for North China used by medieval Europeans, derived from the Khitan (or Khitai), a Manchurian people who conquered S Manchuria and N China and founded the Liao dynasty (937-1125). S China was referred to as Mangi. Long after the end of the Liao, the Russians and some central Asian people continued to and still use Kitai as the name of China. The description of Cathay by Marco Polo (c.1254-c.1324) in his journal helped popularize the name in medieval Europe.


yours an*lly retentively

Manfred

[EvoIV]

derived from the Khitan (or Khitai), a Manchurian people who conquered S Manchuria and N China and founded the Liao dynasty

LOL I had to read that several times. I could have swore it said Mancunian

I was completely unaware until this thread that Cathay was set up by an American and an Australian!

http://www.cathaypacific.com/intl/ab...ry/0,,,00.html

[tamalai]

yes, very multi national now too, aircrew from all over the habitable world............and Canada !!!

[brakedwell]

Surely it would have been more correct to have called a Honk Kong based airline Mangi Pacific? Come to think of it that name doesn't have quite the same ring!

[cavortingcheetah]

Here's another teaser for you then.
Braathens used to be known as BRAATHENS SAFE. Guess what SAFE stood for

[Oblaaspop]

South Africa Far East

Next question?

[cavortingcheetah]

I may be wrong here but I thought it was South Asian and Far Eastern

[superpilut]

Mangi Pacific would be appropriate for a wholesale fruitshipping company..

[Jetset320]

Re Braathens, it's actually South America and Far East


......now, next question?!

[Phil Brentnall]

next question

ok so what does QUANTAS stand for?...

Queers
And
Nymphomaniacs
Travelling
As
Stewards!!!

[spleener]

Gee thanks phil. now wot about"QANTAS?"

[shortly]

Queensland and Northern Territories Aerial (Airial didn't look correct) Service.

[Jetset320]

OK......here are two others:

1) SABENA

2) VARIG

[BahrainLad]

S ociete A eronautique B elgiens......something something.

[cl12pv2s]

Here's another!

What about KLM?

[QNH1013]

Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij. (I'm not kidding)
Literally translated... 'Royal Aviation Company'

[Pax Vobiscum]

Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense

(ain't Google wonderful ...)