ABYSSINIA
n.p. This geographical name is a 16-century Latinisation of the Arabic Ḥabash , through the Portuguese Abex , bearing much the same pronunciation, minus the aspirate. [See HUBSHEE. ]
Historical Citations (2)
"The countrey of the Abexynes, at Prester John's land."—Linschoten, Hak. Soc. i. 38.
"He sent mee to buy three Abassines."—Sir T. Roe, Travels, Hak. Soc. ii. 445.]
From Hobson-Jobson by Yule & Burnell, 1886.