Free City of Tri-Insula

English

Etymology

The Tri-Insula element derives from Latin tri- (combining form of trēs, tria, “three”) + īnsula (“island”).

Proper noun

the Free City of Tri-Insula

1. (history and fantasy) A city-state comprising Long, Manhattan, and Staten Islands, proposed on the 6th of January, 1861 by the seventy-fifth mayor of New York City, Fernando Wood, shortly before the beginning of the American Civil War.
   • 1925, William Thompson Bonner, New York: The World’s Metropolis, 1623–4—1923–4. A Presentation of the Greater City at the beginning of its Second Quarter Century of Amalgamated Government and the 300^th Anniversary of Its Founding with review of the Interim Accomplishments of Its Citizens., 524 Broadway, New York: R. L. Polk & Co., Inc., Section One: “New York — The Metropolis”, Chapter VII: «New York’s Military History — Events and Personnel», ‘Civil War’, ‹Wood’s Proposed Free City›, page 104/1:

     The commercial interests of New York were ever opposed to war. Meetings were held repeatedly in January, 1861, to petition Congress for peace. Meanwhile Mayor Fernando Wood proposed to the Common Council that Manhattan Island, Long Island and Staten Island should secede from the Union and constitute the free city of “Tri-Insula.”

   • 2011, Dominic Lagan, The Coming Storm: A Red Mannion Novel, Morrisville: Lulu.com, →ISBN, chapter three, page 34:

     “Are you trying to tell me that the mayor of New York wants to proclaim independence from the United States of America?” asked Pinkerton.
     “The council approved the plan in January,” Mannion said, delighted by the reaction he had so deliberately provoked. “They’re going to merge Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island into the ‘Free City of Tri-Insula.’ Best goddamn idea Fernandy Wood ever had.”

   • 2013 May, Sam A. Patel, Data Runner (Data Runner Series; Book One), first edition, New York: Diversion Books, →ISBN, part II: “When Security is the Only Option”, chapter 5, no pagination:

     Like any debate, it goes on and on and nothing is said that hasn’t been said a thousand times before, so I pull out my thin screen and enjoy the ride into the Free City of Tri-Insula, or what used to be the old City of New York.

Translations

city-state comprising Long, Manhattan, and Staten Islands

• Chinese: 三島自由市／三岛自由市 (sān dǎo zì yóu shì)

Further reading

• Free City of Tri-Insula on Wikipedia.Wikipedia