a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings
"The merchant paid the fine in guineas, handing over several of the heavy gold coins that were once standard currency."
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Italian descent
"The crowd jeered at him, calling him a guinea because he was of Italian heritage."
a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony; achieved independence from France in 1958
"The guinea has seen significant economic growth since gaining its independence."
a west African bird having dark plumage mottled with white; native to Africa but raised for food in many parts of the world
"The farmer released several guineas into the garden, where they quickly scattered across the grass feeding on seeds."
A person of Italian descent.
"The guinea helped his fellow immigrants settle in their new neighborhood despite speaking no English."
In plain English: A guinea is an old British coin worth slightly more than a pound, though people mostly use it as slang for money or to describe someone who acts superior and pretentious.
"My grandfather keeps ten guineas in his cage to keep him company."
The coast of West Africa between Morocco and the Congo, particularly the north shore of the Gulf of Guinea.
"The explorer sailed along the guinea to trade spices with local merchants before returning home."
The word comes from the Portuguese name Guiné combined with the suffix -ia. The exact origin of the root Guiné itself remains uncertain.