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Glite Dictionary
Berbery

Berbery

9.9
A region of North Africa along the Mediterranean coast used by pirates from the 1600s to 1800s
  • proper noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Berbería
  • The pirates of Berbery were notorious for attacking ships in the Mediterranean.

Examples

  • European powers launched expeditions to suppress piracy along the Berbery coast.

  • The pirates operated from Berbery for centuries.

  • In the 17th century, many captives were sold into slavery in Berbery.

  • Did you know that Berbery was infamous for its corsairs?

  • In the 17th century, many captives were sold into slavery in Berbery.

  • European powers launched expeditions to suppress piracy along the Berbery coast.

  • The pirates of Berbery were notorious for attacking ships in the Mediterranean.

Synonyms

Barbary
vsBerbery
4 9.9

A region in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast where pirates attacked ships from the 1500s to the 1800s

describes the same pirate base but with a wider geographical scope
Barbary Coast
vsBerbery
8.6

A region of North Africa along the Mediterranean known for pirates from the 1600s to 1800s

refers to the region generally rather than stressing the coastline
Berber Coast
vsBerbery
8.0

A coastal region on the Mediterranean Sea in North Africa historically known for pirates

means the same region but as an alternative traditional name form

Surface Forms

Berbery main

Morphology

Berbery = Berber (transparent) = Berber + y

Formed from the ethnonym 'Berber' with the productive suffix '-y' indicating a place related to the Berber people, so the meaning 'land of the Berbers' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Berbery comes from the name of the local people, the Berbers. Because that North African 'coast' was long used as a base for pirates, Berbery came to mean the coastal region famous for pirate attacks.