Editing Bilbao (section)

==  Toponymy and symbols ==
The official name of the town is Bilbao, as known in most languages of the world. [[Euskaltzaindia]], the official regulatory institution of the [[Basque language]], has agreed that between the two possible names existing in Basque, ''Bilbao'' and ''Bilbo'', the historical name is ''Bilbo'', while ''Bilbao'' is the official name.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euskaltzaindia.net/index.php?option=com_eoda&Itemid=191&lang=eu&view=frontpage | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090730011412/http://www.euskaltzaindia.net/index.php?option=com_eoda&Itemid=191&lang=eu&view=frontpage | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 July 2009 | title = Euskal Onomastikaren Datutegia | publisher = [[Euskaltzaindia]] | access-date = 7 October 2010 | language = eu }}</ref> Although the term ''Bilbo'' does not appear in old documents, in the play ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]], there is a reference to swords presumably made of [[Biscay]]an iron which he calls "[[bilbo (sword)|bilboes]]", suggesting that it is a word used since at least the sixteenth century.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.php/gladius/article/viewFile/90/91 | title = La producción de armas blancas en Bilbao durante el Siglo XVI | author = Dueñas Beraiz, Germán | publisher = Gladius XXI | year = 2001 | access-date = 19 July 2008 | archive-date = 24 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090124071948/http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.php/gladius/article/viewFile/90/91 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yT2YBt-iHgcC&q=bilbao&pg=PA51|title=Shakespeare's military language|access-date=10 April 2011|isbn=9780826477774|year=2004|last1=Edelman|first1=Charles|publisher=A&C Black |archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217062409/https://books.google.com/books?id=yT2YBt-iHgcC&q=bilbao&pg=PA51|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[#beas99|Beascoechea 1999]]: 138</ref><ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Bilbo |volume=3 |page=931}}</ref>

There is no consensus among historians about the origin of the name. Generally accepted accounts state that prior to the 12th century, the independent rulers of the territory, named Lords of Zubialdea, were also known as Lords of Bilbao la Vieja ("Old Bilbao"). The symbols of their patrimony are the tower and church used in the shield of Bilbao to this day.<ref>''Historia de Vizcaya a través de la prensa'', Volume 2</ref> One possible origin was suggested by the engineer [[Evaristo de Churruca y Brunet|Evaristo de Churruca]]. He said that it was a Basque custom to name a place after its location. For Bilbao this would be the result of the union of the Basque words for river and cove: ''Bil-Ibaia-Bao''.<ref name="etymology">[[#qui01|Quiroga 2001]]: 41</ref> The historian José Tussel Gómez argues that it is just a natural evolution of the Spanish words ''bello vado'', beautiful ford.<ref>[[#tus04|Tusell 2004]]: 22.</ref> On the other hand, according to the writer Esteban Calle Iturrino, the name derives from the two settlements that existed on both banks of the estuary, rather than from the estuary itself. The first, where the present [[Casco Viejo]] is located, would be called ''billa'', which means stacking in Basque, after the configuration of the buildings. The second, on the left bank, where now [[Bilbo Zarra|Bilbao La Vieja]] is located, would be called ''vaho'', Spanish for mist or steam. From the union of these two derives the name Bilbao,<ref name="etymology"/> which was also written as ''Bilvao'' and ''Biluao'', as documented in its [[municipal charter]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Adeliño Ortega, Charo | title = Carta Puebla | work = Bilbao 700 | page = 6 | url = http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_1.pdf | access-date = 18 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095114/http://www.periodistasvascos.com/imagenes/cap_1.pdf | archive-date = 24 July 2008 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
An ''-ao'' ending is also present in nearby [[Sestao]] and [[Ugao-Miraballes|Ugao]], that could be explained from Basque ''aho'', "mouth".

===Demonym===

The demonym is ''bilbaíno, -a''", although the popular pronunciation ''bilbaino/a'' (sic) is also frequent.<ref>{{cite web |author=Iñaki Azkuna |author-link=Iñaki Azkuna |date=February 2007 |url=http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200702/pag07.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923191301/http://www.bilbao.net/castella/residentes/vivebilbao/publicaciones/periodicobilbao/200702/pag07.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-23 |title=Al mayor Robles |work=Bilbao Newspaper |editor=Bilbao City Council |access-date=19 July 2008 }}</ref> In [[Basque language|Basque]], it is ''bilbotar'', which is sometimes also used in Spanish, generally within the Basque Country.<ref>See examples in the following articles journalistic. For the female gender: [http://www.deia.com/es/printer/2007/11/27/bizkaia/herrialdeak/420800.php The Euskal Museum Herria opens an exhibition of the bilbotarra Mabi Revuelta.]{{dead link|date=January 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} For the male: [https://web.archive.org/web/20090123095721/http://www.deia.es/es/digital/bizkaia/2008/03/08/449427.php A bilbotarra will soon open the first Basque restaurant in Shanghai, with almost 90 traditional dishes]. In plural number: [http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20080509/76674/en/El/Festival/de/Cine/Fantastico/aterroriza%C2%BB//a/los/bilbotarras/ The Film Festival Fantastic «terrorizes» the bilbotarras]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 
The village is affectionately known by its inhabitants as the ''{{lang|es|botxo}}'' meaning "hole", since it is surrounded by mountains.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euskonews.com/0313zbk/gaia31303es.html |title=The botxo: Etymology of a name of Bilbao |author=Gómez Pérez, Josu |editor=euskonews.com |date=9 September 2005 |access-date=25 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002123915/http://www.euskonews.com/0313zbk/gaia31303es.html |archive-date=2 October 2008}}</ref> The nickname ''botxero'' is derived from this nickname. Another nickname that Bilbao receives is that of ''chimbos'', which comes from birds that were hunted in large numbers in these places during the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/prensa/20070102/vizcaya/cazando-bilbao_20070102.html |editor=El Correo Español |title=Cazando Bilbao |author=Olmo |date=2 January 2007 |access-date=25 July 2008 |archive-date=22 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122205505/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/prensa/20070102/vizcaya/cazando-bilbao_20070102.html |url-status=live }} See also [http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/mcp/45700624322314985754679/016504.pdf?incr=1 Chimbos and Chimberos]{{dead link|date=January 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} of [[Miguel de Unamuno]].</ref>

The titles, the flag and the coat of arms are Bilbao's traditional symbols and belong to its historic patrimony, being used in formal acts, for the identification and decoration of specific places or for the validation of documents.

=== Titles ===
Bilbao holds the historic category of township (''villa''), with the titles of "Very noble and very loyal and unbeaten" (''Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta''). It was the [[Catholic Monarchs]] who awarded the title "Noble Town" (''Noble Villa'') on 20 September 1475. [[Philip III of Spain]], via a letter in 1603 awarded the town the titles of "Very noble and very loyal".<ref>GUIARD LARRAURI, Teófilo y RODRÍGUEZ HERRERO, Ángel: ''Historia de la Noble Villa de Bilbao''. Editorial La Gran Enciclopedia Vasca, 1971. pag. 8</ref> After the [[siege of Bilbao]], during the [[First Carlist War]], on 25 December 1836, the title of "Unbeaten" was added.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euskonews.com/0351zbk/gaia35103es.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060617101906/http://www.euskonews.com/0351zbk/gaia35103es.html | archive-date = 17 June 2006 | url-status = dead | author1 = AZPIAZU CANIVELL | author2 = Mª Dolores | title = La Sociedad El Sitio. Más de 130 años de liberalismo bilbaíno | editor = euskonews.com | access-date = 3 December 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Coat of arms ===
[[File:Escudo heráldico de Bilbao.svg|thumb|upright=0.6|The coat of arms of Bilbao]]
The [[coat of arms]] is [[blazon|emblazoned]] as follows:
{{blockquote|In a silver field a bridge with two eyes, added to the [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|church of San Antón]] of its colour and to its sinister two sable wolves walking and in stick, on waves of azure and silver.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150603010831/http://www.bizkaia.net/udalnet/directorio_municipal/pdf/heral020.pdf Directory of municipal information.] Diputación de Vizcaya</ref>}}It has its origins in the 14th century and has remained with the same symbols since then, although its presentation has been adapted according to the destiny of the coat of arms. The durability of this shield is due to the representativeness of the symbols that appear. The navigable estuary and the stone bridge, prior to the founding of the town.  The wolves, typical of the coat of arms of the founder of the town in 1300, Diego López de Haro, son of Diego Lope Díaz de Haro (Lope comes from the Latin Lupus (wolf)) were added by the town council to represent the founder. Later, the fortress or castle that guarded the bridge was added and, when it was demolished in 1366, it was replaced by the temple of San Antón that was built in its place and inaugurated in 1433.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Basas |first=Manuel |url=https://www.bilbao.eus/bld/bitstream/handle/123456789/26356/06.pdf |title=Bilbao - Escudo de la Villa |location=Bilbao |pages=6 |language=Spanish |trans-title=Bilbao |chapter=El escudo de la villa de Bilbao}}</ref>

=== Flag ===
The flag that represents the city is white with a red block, in a ratio of three parts long by two wide. The colours red and white are the historical ones of the villa.

The Royal Order of 30 July 1845 determined the maritime password for the population. This was defined as a white flag with an upper red die next to the pod. The die should be square and the length of its side should equal half of the pod. Previously, at least since 1511, the banner that the '' Bilbao Consulate '' was wearing was white with a red [[Cross of Burgundy]]. The relationship of the town with the mercantile and marine activities was always very strong coming to share headquarters. In 1603 the new consistorial house is inaugurated and in it the headquarters of the city council and of the referred one '' Bilbao Consulate '' are located. The intimate relationship made the flag of the Consulate was related as a flag of the town by citizenship.

The definition of the maritime flag in 1845 was assumed by the population, who accepted it as their own, and so did the city council. At the inauguration of the Bilbao-Miranda de Ebro railway line, it was already used as a symbol of the town's representation, being permanently adopted in 1895 although no resolution has been adopted for this purpose.<ref>[http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-nuestros-padres-20090503.html «Una bandera de nuestros padres.»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506175515/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-nuestros-padres-20090503.html |date=6 May 2009 }} "El Correo".</ref>

Although it has always been assumed by the municipal institution and citizenship, at the beginning of the 20th century it was discussed in a municipal plenary session about the determination of a flag for the town. There was talk about "the use of the crimson colour of the [[Lordship of Biscay]], or of the [[Saltire|cross of Saint Andrew]]" but without reaching any resolution to the effect.<ref>[http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-maritima-bilbao-20090503.html The maritime flag of Bilbao. The city has adopted the banner created in 1845 for merchant ships, but the City Council has not officially adopted it.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506175413/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20090503/vizcaya/bandera-maritima-bilbao-20090503.html |date=6 May 2009 }} "El Correo".</ref>