Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Guinea

1. 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.

2. 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. The guinea, so called from the guinea gold out of which it was first struck, was proclaimed in 1663, and to go for twenty shillings; but it never went for less than twenty-one shillings. (Pinkerton) guinea corn.

(Science: botany) a long and slender african nematoid worm (Filaria Medinensis) of a white colour. It lives in the cellular tissue of man, beneath the skin, and produces painful sores.