Umbrellas Are Also Called Parasols: "To Stop The Sun"

The word "umbrella" is derived from the Latin "umbra," meaning to shade. Another term for the umbrella is a parasol, derived from "para" meaning to stop or to shield and "sol" meaning sun. In fact, the use of parasols to protect oneself from the harmful UV rays of the sun dates back to ancient civilizations, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, Aztec, Indian and others. The risks of sun damage have been recognized for ages. It is only in recent centuries that our attitudes towards sun protection have faltered.