East India Company

noun

: any of several companies organized chiefly during the 17th and 18th centuries for carrying on trade with the East Indies

Word History

Etymology

East India, collective name applied loosely and vaguely to India, Indochina, and the Malay archipelago

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of East India Company was in 1608

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Dictionary Entries Near East India Company

Cite this Entry

“East India Company.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/East%20India%20Company. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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