Guinea
- a coastal region in W Africa, extending from the Gambia River to the Gabon estuary.
- Formerly French Guinea. an independent republic in W Africa, on the Atlantic coast. About 96,900 sq. mi. (251,000 sq. km). Capital: Conakry.
- Gulf of, a part of the Atlantic Ocean that projects into the W coast of Africa and extends from the Ivory Coast to Gabon.
- (lowercase) a former money of account of the United Kingdom, equal to 21 shillings: still often used in quoting fees or prices.
- (lowercase) a gold coin of Great Britain issued from 1663 to 1813, with a nominal value of 20 shillings.
- (lowercase) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Italian birth or descent.
- (lowercase) Horse Racing. a person who does miscellaneous work in or around a horse stable.
Examples from the Web for guinea
Contemporary Examples
We are, essentially, an army of guinea pigs millions strong.
Guinea, with 25 percent, recorded the lowest adult literacy rate in the world at that time.
In Guinea, just 42 percent of the population aged 15-24 can both read and write a “short simple statement” in their everyday life.
“We know the outbreak is still flaming strongly in western Sierra Leone and some parts of the interior of Guinea,” said Nabarro.
Liberia, once the hot zone, now reports 7,719 cases, while Guinea has 2,283.
Historical Examples
I am to have ten shillings and sixpence—half a guinea a week!
Life in LondonEdwin Hodder
No one ever seems to have a guinea to spend upon false teeth.
In the Heart of VosgesMatilda Betham-Edwards
"See you in Guinea first," muttered Bandy-legs, bristling up.
With Trapper Jim in the North WoodsLawrence J. Leslie
"I'll hold thee a guinea of that," said the wit, throwing the money on the table.
Joseph Andrews Vol. 1Henry Fielding
They probably had them from the English of Carolina, whither they had been brought from Guinea.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
guinea
- a British gold coin taken out of circulation in 1813, worth 21 shillings
- the sum of 21 shillings (£1.05), still used in some contexts, as in quoting professional fees
- See guinea fowl
- US slang, derogatory an Italian or a person of Italian descent
Word Origin
Guinea
- a republic in West Africa, on the Atlantic: established as the colony of French Guinea in 1890 and became an independent republic in 1958. Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority and animist. Currency: franc. Capital: Conakry. Pop: 11 176 026 (2013 est). Area: 245 855 sq km (94 925 sq miles)
- (formerly) the coastal region of West Africa, between Cape Verde and Namibe (formerly Moçâmedes; Angola): divided by a line of volcanic peaks into Upper Guinea (between The Gambia and Cameroon) and Lower Guinea (between Cameroon and S Angola)
- Gulf of Guinea a large inlet of the S Atlantic on the W coast of Africa, extending from Cape Palmas, Liberia, to Cape Lopez, Gabon: contains two large bays, the Bight of Bonny and the Bight of Benin, separated by the Niger delta
Word Origin and History for guinea
n.
former British coin, 1660s, from Guinea, region along the west coast of Africa, presumably from an African word (perhaps Tuareg aginaw "black people"); the 20-shilling coins so called because they were first minted for British trade with Guinea (but soon in domestic use) and with gold from Africa. The original guinea (in use from 1663 to 1813) was based on the value of gold and by 1695 it was worth 30 shillings. William III then fixed its value at 21 shillings, 6 pence in 1698. The extra 6 pence were lopped off in December 1717.
The Guinea hen (1570s) is a domestic fowl imported from there. Guinea "derogatory term for Italian" (1896) was originally Guinea Negro (1740s) and meant "black person, person of mixed ancestry." It was applied to Italians c.1890 probably because of their dark complexions relative to northern Europeans, and after 1911 was occasionally applied to Hispanics and Pacific Islanders as well. New Guinea was so named 1546 by Spanish explorer Inigo Ortiz de Retes in reference to the natives' dark skin and tightly curled hair.
Guinea
Republic in west Africa, bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali to the north; Ivory Coast to the east; Liberia to the south; and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its capital and largest city is Conarky.