Dahomey
Americannoun
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former name of Benin.
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Also called the Kingdom of Dahomey. a former kingdom in what is now southern Benin that existed from around 1600 to 1900.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Dahomey
First recorded in 1780–90; from Fon dã homè; literally, “belly of Da, snake's belly”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even the language they use to denounce them, French, is a foreign tongue and not one endemic to Dahomey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2024
The deal followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision in 2021 to sign over 26 pieces known as the Abomey Treasures, priceless artworks of the 19th century Dahomey kingdom in present-day Benin.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2024
The Dahomey, also called the Fon, in West Africa traditionally believed that women had three souls and men had four.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 14, 2023
Jean Josué Pierre Dahomey, Haiti’s ambassador to France, said the tribute to Louverture should also be “a testament to France’s obligation of solidarity toward Haiti.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
Whole villages had been imported from Egypt, Algeria, Dahomey, and other far-flung locales, along with their inhabitants.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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