kwanza

[kwahn-zuh]

noun, plural kwan·za, kwan·zas.

a paper money, cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of Angola, equal to 100 lwei: replaced the escudo in 1977.

Kwanza

noun

Kwanzaa.
Cuanza.

Kwanzaa

or Kwan·za

[kwahn-zuh]

noun, plural Kwan·zaas.

a harvest festival celebrated from Dec. 26th until Jan. 1st in some African-American communities.

Origin of Kwanzaa

First recorded in 1965–70, Kwanzaa is from the Swahili word kwanza first

Cuanza

or Kwan·za

[kwahn-zuh]

noun

a river in central Angola, flowing NW and W to the Atlantic Ocean. 500 miles (805 km) long.

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

Examples from the Web for kwanza

Historical Examples of kwanza

Meanwhile the Dutch had made preparations for an advance up the Kwanza.
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell
Andrew Battell
In 1582 he removed to Masanganu, at the “meeting of the waters” of the Lukala and Kwanza.
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell
Andrew Battell
South of the Kwanza is the volcanic mountain Caculo-Cabaza (3300 ft.).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1
Various

British Dictionary definitions for kwanza

kwanza

noun

the standard monetary unit of Angola, divided into 100 lwei

Word Origin for kwanza

from a Bantu language

Kwanzaa

noun

a seven-day festival beginning on Dec 26 when African-Americans celebrate family, community, and culture

Word Origin for Kwanzaa

C20: from Swahili (matunda ya) kwanza first (fruits)

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