online medical dictionary | definition of djibouti

A republic in eastern africa, on the gulf of aden at the entrance to the red sea. Djibouti is also the name of its capital. It was formerly the french territory of afars and issas and later french somaliland, in french hands from 1862 to 1977 when it became independent. The republic was named from the capital, which is said to derive from an afar word gabouri, plate, with reference to a plate woven from doum palm used in ceremonies.

(12 Dec 1998)