tunis
tunis Lexical Profile
• noun
The capital and largest city of Tunisia, situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, known for its historic medina and proximity to the ruins of ancient Carthage.
North American A breed of medium-sized, fat-tailed sheep originally from North Africa, characterized by a distinct red or tan face and legs, raised primarily for meat.
"The farmer decided to add a small flock of Tunis to his pastures because of their excellent heat tolerance and foraging ability."
Word Nuance & Usage
Care should be taken to distinguish 'Tunis', the capital city, from 'Tunisia', the country, although historically the name 'Tunis' was sometimes used to refer to the entire territory.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Berber root 'ens', meaning 'to lie down' or 'to pass the night', suggesting the settlement originated as a camp or stopover. It is also possibly connected to the Phoenician goddess Tanit.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.