English Explanatory Dictionary

abeng

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An animal (usually bull) horn used by the Maroon people of Jamaica as a musical instrument; and also (historical) formerly by slaveholders to summon slaves to canefields and by the Maroon army to communicate cryptic messages over great distances.

Pronunciation

/əˈbɛŋ/ /æ-/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-abeng.wav /æˈbɛŋ/ /ˈæbɛŋ/

Word forms

abeng abengs

Etymology

Borrowed from Jamaican Creole abeng, from Akan abɛŋ (“animal horn; wind instrument”) (Twi).

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