Upper Volta
1
7.8
- proper noun
- The country now known as Burkina Faso was called Upper Volta until 1984.
Examples
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The country formerly known as Upper Volta is now called Burkina Faso.
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In 1984, Upper Volta officially changed its name to Burkina Faso.
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In 1960, Upper Volta gained its independence from France.
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Many historical documents refer to Upper Volta during the colonial period.
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In 1984, Upper Volta officially changed its name to Burkina Faso.
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The country now known as Burkina Faso was called Upper Volta until 1984.
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In 1960, Upper Volta gained its independence from France.
Synonyms
7
3.9
A country in western Africa with no coast and capital Ouagadougou
Surface Forms
Morphology
upper + Volta
This is a lexicalized proper name: knowing 'upper' (top) and 'Volta' (a name) might suggest a geographic region but does not yield the specific historical meaning 'the former name of Burkina Faso'. The relation between the constituents and the encoded historical/political identity is not predictable from word meanings alone, so learners would not reliably derive the MWE's actual meaning.
Etymology
Upper Volta was named for the Volta rivers that run through the area: Upper shows the higher part of the rivers and Volta is the river name. That's why Upper Volta was the 'former name' of the country now called Burkina Faso until 1984.