Guinea
['gɪnɪ] or ['ɡɪni]
Definition
(noun.) a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony; achieved independence from France in 1958.
(noun.) a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings.
Inputed by Gretchen--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A district on the west coast of Africa (formerly noted for its export of gold and slaves) after which the Guinea fowl, Guinea grass, Guinea peach, etc., are named.
(n.) A gold coin of England current for twenty-one shillings sterling, or about five dollars, but not coined since the issue of sovereigns in 1817.
Inputed by Lilly
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Twenty-one shillings.
Checked by Aubrey
Definition
n. an English gold coin no longer used=21s. so called because first made of gold brought from Guinea in Africa.—ns. Guin′ea-corn a cereal extensively cultivated in Central Africa and India—also Indian millet; Guin′ea-fowl a genus of African birds in the pheasant family having dark-gray plumage with round spots of white generally larger on the back and under surface; Guin′ea-grass a grass of the same genus with millet a native of Guinea and Senegal; Guin′ea-hen (Shak.) a courtesan; Guin′ea-pepp′er (see Pepper); Guin′ea-pig a small South American rodent somewhat resembling a small pig the cavy: (slang) a professional company director without time or real qualifications for the duties; Guin′ea-worm a very slender thread-like nematode worm common in tropical Africa.
Editor: Rena
Examples
- The tax of a guinea a-head for every man-servant, which has lately been imposed in Great Britain, is of the same kind. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- For this express reason, I had borrowed the half-guinea, that I might not be without a fund for my travelling-expenses. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Mr. Coavins gave a guinea, and the follerers made up a little purse. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- In scattered islands and in Papua and New Guinea we find another series of black and brownish peoples of a more lowly type with frizzy hair. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- A guinea a-piece, boys-be alive there--bustle about--there's good fellows. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Mr. Cruncher made the observation to his next neighbour, and added, I'd hold half a guinea that _he_ don't get no law-work to do. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- A shilling changes masters more frequently than a guinea, and a halfpenny more frequently than a shilling. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- There's many of 'em who can't spend a dollar to your guinea, my boy. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Among other remote and isolated little patches of language are the Papuan speech of New Guinea and the native Australian. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- I have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what have I gained? Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Well, do you remember coming down in a gig to Dr. Swishtail's to see me, before you went to India, and giving me half a guinea and a pat on the head? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- I swore that time, sure as ever I earned a guinea, that guinea should go to you. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- I find it in Captain Seagrave's account of his Voyage to Guinea. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- Mine is a guinea, he said. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- You want me to accept of half a guinea. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I'll beat 'em, if it cost me a thousand guineas. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- He laid two of Thomasin's guineas, and the reddleman his two pounds. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Shall I leave you twenty guineas? Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The price of an ox, reckoned at ten guineas, is about three score times the price of a lamb, reckoned at 3s. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- One thing is cheerful in it--the guineas are not lost. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- I wouldn't take ten thousand guineas for that bird. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Next day the mystery of the guineas was explained. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Like other guineas, they were worth no more than ?46:14:6. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- There are five-and-twenty guineas in this bag. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- He struck his boot upon the ground, so that the guineas chinked within. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- If you do, and I were twenty years younger, I would give your father one thousand guineas for you. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- There might be medical doctors at the present hour, a picking up their guineas where a honest tradesman don't pick up his fardens--fardens! Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Three, four, five, guineas, you would consider handsome, I dare say. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Two guineas a-piece, boys--don't let 'em gain on us--keep it up--keep it up. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
Checker: Spenser