Dictionary

Indies en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈɪndiz/

Etymology

From Latin India.

Meanings

1. (plural, plural-only) The East Indies, including India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and adjacent lands.
   • There followed a remarkable period of maritime expansion by the Portuguese, who by the end of the century would establish a sea route to the Indies, rounding Africa and crossing the Indian Ocean to reach the subcontinent itself and the Spice Islands that lay beyond. 1992, Edwin Williamson, The Penguin history of Latin America, London; New York: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 5:
2. (plural, plural-only) The West Indies, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other islands of the Caribbean.
3. (historical, plural, plural-only) The Western Hemisphere, during the early period of European colonization and exploration.
   • the Spanish Indies

Forms

Deriveds

West Indies · East Indies · Windies · Indian

Relateds

Dutch East Indies

Translations (8)

es Indias (historical) · fr Indes (historical) · pl Indie (historical) · pt Índias (historical) · nl Indië (historical) · fy Ynje (historical) · ca Índies (historical) · it Indie (historical)