Make Our Dictionary Yours
Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get:
By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Success!
We'll see you in your inbox soon.
British, Swiss and Germans are comparatively few.
Traces of it have been found in the Swiss lake-dwellings; it is mentioned in the oldest Greek writings, and was cultivated by the Romans.
It formed the imperial "Swiss guard," and never left the city except to accompany the emperor.
In 1466 it formed an alliance with the Swiss, and this became a permanent union in 1515.
By the peace of Westphalia (1648) it was recognized as an independent ally of the Swiss League.