East Indies

plural noun

Also called the Indies. SE Asia, including India, Indonesia, and the Malay Archipelago.
the Malay Archipelago.

Also called East India.

Related formsEast Indian, adjective, nounpseu·do-East In·di·an, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for east indies

Historical Examples of east indies

They are so call'd, because the same sort is found in the East-Indies.
A New Voyage to Carolina
John Lawson
The manner of building is somewhat strange: yet generally used in this Part of the East-Indies.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898--Volume 39 of 55
Various
The child is yours: for it cannot belong to a man who has been three years absent in the East-Indies.
Three Hours after Marriage
John Gay

British Dictionary definitions for east indies

East Indies

pl n the East Indies

the Malay Archipelago, including or excluding the Philippines
SE Asia in general

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012