arango

See also: aranĝo

English

Alternative forms

• rango

Etymology

Rango is the earlier form, attested from 1644. From Malagasy rango (“long and thin”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈɹæŋɡəʊ/

Noun

arango (plural arangos or arangoes)

1. A rough carnelian bead, formerly used in Africa as currency when buying slaves for the slave trade.
   • 1794, James Watt, Journal of James Watt: Expedition to Timbo Capital of the Fula Empire in 1794:

     There we purchased two sheep, one for two strings of arangoes, for the other I gave a note upon Mr. Walker for a bar of salt.

References

• “arango”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Angora, Aragon, Argoan, angora, organa