Guinea worm

Guinea worm
Guinea Guin"ea (g[i^]n"[-e]), n. 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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

{Guinea corn}. (Bot.) See {Durra}.

{Guinea Current} (Geog.), a current in the Atlantic Ocean setting southwardly into the Bay of Benin on the coast of Guinea.

{Guinea dropper} one who cheats by dropping counterfeit guineas. [Obs.] --Gay.

{Guinea fowl}, {Guinea hen} (Zo["o]l.), an African gallinaceous bird, of the genus {Numida}, allied to the pheasants. The common domesticated species ({Numida meleagris}), has a colored fleshy horn on each aide of the head, and is of a dark gray color, variegated with small white spots. The crested Guinea fowl ({Numida cristata}) is a finer species.

{Guinea grains} (Bot.), grains of Paradise, or amomum. See {Amomum}.

{Guinea grass} (Bot.), a tall strong forage grass ({Panicum jumentorum}) introduced. from Africa into the West Indies and Southern United States.

{Guinea-hen flower} (Bot.), a liliaceous flower ({Fritillaria Meleagris}) with petals spotted like the feathers of the Guinea hen.

{Guinea peach}. See under {Peach}.

{Guinea pepper} (Bot.), the pods of the {Xylopia aromatica}, a tree of the order {Anonace[ae]}, found in tropical West Africa. They are also sold under the name of {Piper [AE]thiopicum}.

{Guinea plum} (Bot.), the fruit of {Parinarium excelsum}, a large West African tree of the order {Chrysobalane[ae]}, having a scarcely edible fruit somewhat resembling a plum, which is also called {gray plum} and {rough-skin plum}.

{Guinea worm} (Zo["o]l.), a long and slender African nematoid worm ({Filaria Medinensis}) of a white color. It lives in the cellular tissue of man, beneath the skin, and produces painful sores. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • guinea worm — n a slender tropical nematode worm of the genus Dracunculus (D. medinensis) that is a human parasite with no known animal reservoir, has an adult female that may attain a length of several feet, and is characterized by a life cycle which includes …   Medical dictionary

  • Guinea worm — n. a nematode worm (Dracunculus medinensis) of tropical Africa and S Asia, parasitic as an adult in the subcutaneous tissues of humans and other mammals: the female can reach a length of c. 90 cm ( c. 3 ft) …   English World dictionary

  • guinea worm — a long, slender, roundworm, Dracunculus medinensis, parasitic under the skin of humans and animals, common in parts of India and Africa. Also, Guinea worm. [1690 1700] * * * or medina worm or dragon worm Nematode (Dracunculus medinensis) that is… …   Universalium

  • Guinea worm — noun 1. a painful and debilitating infestation contracted by drinking stagnant water contaminated with Guinea worm larvae that can mature inside a human s abdomen until the worm emerges through a painful blister in the person s skin • Syn:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Guinea worm disease — A parasitic disease caused by infection with the guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis), the largest parasite known to plague people. Guinea worm disease is also called Dracunculiasis and end of the road disease because it is not seen in the big… …   Medical dictionary

  • Guinea worm disease — noun a painful and debilitating infestation contracted by drinking stagnant water contaminated with Guinea worm larvae that can mature inside a human s abdomen until the worm emerges through a painful blister in the person s skin • Syn: ↑Guinea… …   Useful english dictionary

  • guinea-worm — noun A long, white parasitic worm which can live in the human skin. the rishta doctors patiently removing guinea worms, making an incision, trapping the three foot long creatures head in a cleft at the end of a stick, and then slowly winding it… …   Wiktionary

  • guinea worm — noun Date: 1699 a slender nematode worm (Dracunculus medinensis) of tropical regions that is parasitic in humans, has no known animal reservoir, and has an adult female that infests subcutaneous tissues and may attain a length of several feet …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Guinea worm — noun a very long parasitic nematode worm which lives under the skin of infected humans and other mammals in rural Africa and Asia. [Dracunculus medinensis.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • guinea worm — a nematode worm, Dracunculus medinensis, that is a parasite of humans. The white threadlike adult female, 60–120 cm long, lives in the connective tissues beneath the skin. It releases its larvae into a large blister on the legs or arms; when the… …   The new mediacal dictionary

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