\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.
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}. (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 ({N.
   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 ({N. 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 pig}. [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.]
   (a) (Zo["o]l.) A small Brazilian rodent ({Cavia cobaya}),
       about seven inches in length and usually of a white
       color, with spots of orange and black.
   (b) A contemptuous sobriquet. --Smollett
{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.