nubia

¹ American  

[noo-bee-uh, nyoo-] / ˈnu bi ə, ˈnyu- /

noun

1. a light, knitted woolen head scarf for women.

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Nubia ² American  

[noo-bee-uh, nyoo-] / ˈnu bi ə, ˈnyu- /

noun

1. a region in southern Egypt and the Sudan, north of Khartoum, extending from the Nile to the Red Sea.

2. Kingdom of Nubia, an ancient state in Nubia, 2000 b.c.–a.d. 1400.

3. Lake Nubia. Lake Nassar.

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Nubia British  

/ ˈnjuːbɪə /

noun

1. an ancient region of NE Africa, on the Nile, extending from Aswan to Khartoum

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Etymology

Origin of nubia¹

1855–60; < Latin nūb ( ēs ) a cloud + -ia

Origin of Nubia²

First recorded in 1650–60; from Medieval Latin Nuba, Nubia, from Latin Nuba (singular), Nubae (plural), Nubaeī (from Greek Noûbai, Noubaîoi, the name of a people in southern Egypt and northern Sudan; further origin obscure; possibly from Egyptian nwb “gold”) + -ia noun suffix

Example Sentences

Symes shoved up the shade to see the lovely Pearline Starr, with her head tied in a nubia, fighting her way through his front gate.

From The Lady Doc by Lockhart, Caroline

Preparatory to ascending to the trapeze Alfred unwound the nubia from his waist, casting it on the ground.

From Watch Yourself Go By by Warden, Ben W.

Here's a nubia, too, you kin have; it'll look better than that little hat you had on last night.

From Lovey Mary by Rice, Alice Caldwell Hegan

Young Lucretia wore also her aunt Maria's black alpaca dress, which had been somewhat decreased in size to fit her, and her aunt Lucretia's purple hood with a nubia tied over it.

From Young Lucretia and Other Stories by Freeman, Mary Eleanor Wilkins

The obsequious dressing-maid laid it lightly on her shoulders, and holding out a white nubia of zephyr worsted, she said, "P'r'aps missis would like to war dis ere."

From A Romance of the Republic by Child, Lydia Maria Francis