Guinea - ț̢
A republic in western Africa, south of SENEGAL and MALI, east of GUINEA-BISSAU. Its capital is Conakry. Its coastal region was proclaimed a French protectorate in 1849, was established as a separate colony called French Guinea in 1893, and gained its independence in 1958. This Guinea gave its name to the coin originally made out of gold coming from there. Guinea is from a Tuareg word aginaw, meaning black people. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p474 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p222)
Synonyms : Guinea, Republic of
Guinea Pigs - ț̢
A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.
Guinea-Bissau - ț̢
A republic in western Africa, south of SENEGAL and west of GUINEA. Its capital is Bissau. It was discovered by the Portuguese in 1446. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was active in slave trading. Its boundaries were established by convention with France in 1886 and 1902-05 and in 1974 it gained its independence. As a Portuguese overseas province, the country was called Portuguese Guinea; it was named Guinea-Bissau in 1974. The name Guinea is from the Tuareg word Aginaw, meaning black people. Bissau is from the native name of the people there, the Bijuga, whose meaning is uncertain. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p975 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p222)