triangular trade

American  

[trahy-ang-gyuh-ler treyd] / traɪˈæŋ gjə lər ˈtreɪd /

noun

1. a pattern of colonial commerce connecting three regions and crossing the Atlantic Ocean, specifically the transporting of enslaved Africans to the Americas, cotton and other raw materials from the Americas to Europe, and textiles and other manufactured goods from Europe to West Africa, or a similar repeating trade pattern transporting enslaved Africans to the West Indies and sugar or molasses from the West Indies to New England to be manufactured into rum, with liquor subsequently shipped and sold in West Africa.

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Etymology

Origin of triangular trade

First recorded in 1885–90 in the sense of ordinary commercial trade, not involving enslaved Africans; the current sense was first recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Players of Dungeons & Dragons recognize the triangular pyramid shape as that of some dice used in the game.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2010

Here was placed an elevated sea mark: it was in the form of a triangular pyramid, and built of stone. 

From The Dairyman's Daughter by Richmond, Legh

In how many different ways may the triangular pyramid be coloured, using in every case one, two, three, or four colours of the solar spectrum?

From Amusements in Mathematics by Dudeney, Henry Ernest

There formerly existed a very beautiful fountain in the middle of the higher place, which was composed of a triangular pyramid, surmounted by a statue of Alexander; but not the least vestige of it remains.

From Rouen, It's History and Monuments A Guide to Strangers by Licquet, Théodore

They are buried, with their servant, in the churchyard of Plasnewydd, under a triangular pyramid.

From The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals. Vol. 1 by Prothero, Rowland E. (Rowland Edmund), Baron Ernle