Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - benin

 geographical name  1. river about 100 miles (161 kilometers) S Nigeria W of the Niger flowing into Bight of ~  2. former kingdom W Africa on lower Niger River; incorporated in Nigeria after 1897  3. (or formerly Dahomey) country W Africa on Gulf of Guinea; a republic, formerly a territory of French West Africa capital Porto-Novo area 43,483 square miles (112,621 square kilometers), population 5,074,000  4. (or ~ City) city SW Nigeria in W delta of Niger River population 202,800  • ~ese adjective or noun