1620s, in reference to the ancient Belgæ (see Belgium). The modern country was formed 1830-31. Belgian Congo was formed 1908 by annexation.
Entries linking to belgian
Belgium
c. 1600, "Low Germany and the Netherlands," from the Latin name of the territory occupied by the Belgæ, a Celtic or Celto-Germanic tribe that in Roman times occupied the area below the mouth of the Rhine, including modern Belgium and much of northeastern France. Adopted 1830 as the name of a new nation formed from the southern part of the former United Kingdom of the Netherlands.