jamaica
jamaica Lexical Profile
• noun
An island country situated in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola, renowned for its mountainous topography, lush tropical climate, and significant global cultural influence.
"We traveled to Jamaica to study its unique coastal ecosystems and experience its vibrant musical heritage."
American A major commercial and residential neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, originally named after the indigenous Jameco people.
"She took the Long Island Rail Road to the Jamaica station before transferring to the subway."
Word Nuance & Usage
While most universally known as the Caribbean island nation, 'Jamaica' is also the name of a major neighborhood and transit hub in Queens, New York, which possesses a completely unrelated Algonquian etymology.
• Rhymes for jamaica
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the indigenous Taíno name 'Xaymaca' or 'Yamaya', meaning 'Land of Wood and Water' or 'Land of Springs'. The name was adopted into Spanish as 'Jamaica' following Columbus's arrival in 1494, and later absorbed into English.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.