guinea
guinea Lexical Profile
guinea Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A country located on the west coast of Africa, officially the Republic of Guinea, renowned for its rich mineral resources and diverse ethnic cultures.
British A former British gold coin, or the sum of 21 shillings (equivalent to one pound and five pence), traditionally used for paying professional fees and pricing livestock or art.
"The champion thoroughbred was sold at auction for two million guineas."
A historical geographical region in West Africa stretching along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, from which several modern nations take their names.
"During the age of exploration, European merchants established numerous maritime trade routes along the coast of Guinea."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern British English, the term 'guinea' is still occasionally used to denote the sum of 1.05 pounds (formerly 21 shillings), strictly reserved for elite livestock auctions and classic horse races.
• Rhymes for guinea
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Portuguese 'Guiné', a term used for the West African coast. The British gold coin was named 'guinea' in 1663 because the gold used to mint it was imported from this region.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.