General
island
What does island mean?
A traffic roundabout. While the rest of the country says 'roundabout', Birmingham and the West Midlands stuck with 'island' — short for 'traffic island'. Given Spaghetti Junction lives in Brummie heartland, they've earned the right to name them however they like.
"Take the third exit off the Five Ways island and you'll see it on the left."
Origin
Shortened from 'traffic island', preserved in West Midlands usage where standard English shifted to 'roundabout'.
Frequently asked questions
What does island mean in Birmingham slang?
It means a roundabout — Brummies call traffic islands simply "islands."
How do you use island in a sentence?
"Take the third exit off the island and you're nearly there."
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