Dictionary

Demerara en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /dɛməˈɹɑɹə/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /dɛməˈɹɑːɹə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɛməˈɹɛəɹə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɛməˈɹɛɹə/ (General-American)

Etymology

The placename derives from an Arawak word. Perhaps Malali ("fast running stream"), which would have originally been the name of a section of rapids, from which the Dutch called the whole river de Malali ("the Malali"), which (with incorporation of the definite article into the name, and alternation of l and r) became Demerara. Alternatively, perhaps Immenary or Dumaruni meaning “river of the letterwood”. The sugar is so-called because it was grown in the region around the river.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A type of natural, unrefined or partially refined cane sugar, which is light brown in colour, particularly used in pastries and biscuits like shortbread.
2. (countable, uncountable) A dark rum, made in Guyana using molasses and this sugar, mainly used for blending.
   • He related, “Down home we used to drink Demerara and when I was a lot younger than I am now I'd always get embarrassed, not being able to take it neat like most of them. You need a bull's gullet for neat Demerara." 2010, Charmaine A. Nelson, Ebony Roots, Northern Soil: Perspectives on Blackness in Canada, page 314, quoting Yardley (a seaman in Canada circa 1900)

Forms

Demerara en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• /dɛməˈɹɑɹə/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /dɛməˈɹɑːɹə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɛməˈɹɛəɹə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɛməˈɹɛɹə/ (General-American)

Etymology

The placename derives from an Arawak word. Perhaps Malali ("fast running stream"), which would have originally been the name of a section of rapids, from which the Dutch called the whole river de Malali ("the Malali"), which (with incorporation of the definite article into the name, and alternation of l and r) became Demerara. Alternatively, perhaps Immenary or Dumaruni meaning “river of the letterwood”. The sugar is so-called because it was grown in the region around the river.

Meanings

1. A river which rises in the rainforests of Guyana, and flows north to the Atlantic Ocean, which the country's capital of Georgetown is situated on; in full, the Demerara River.
2. A region of Guyana in South America, Essequebo en Demerary (Essequibo and Demerara), formerly a Dutch (later British) colony, located around the lower courses of this river.

Deriveds

Demerara-Mahaica