black indies
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Newcastle upon Tyne, whose rich coal mines prove an Indies to the proprietors.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “black indies” mean?
Newcastle upon Tyne, whose rich coal mines prove an Indies to the proprietors.
Is “black indies” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.