West In·dies 
(ĭndēz)
(ĭndēz) An archipelago between southeast North America and northern South America, separating the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean and including the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahama Islands. The original inhabitants were Caribs and Arawaks. Several of the islands were sighted and explored by Columbus during his voyages of 1492-1504. The first permanent European settlement was made by the Spanish on Hispaniola in 1496. During the colonial period the English, French, and Dutch also laid claim to various islands, and the United States acquired Puerto Rico and part of the Virgin Islands in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
West Indian adj. & n.
- in the eye of the wind
- in the face of
- in the face/teeth of
- in the family way
- in the flesh
- in the good graces of
- in the groove
- in the hole
- in the interest/interests of
- in the interest of
- in the interests of
- in the know
- in the least
- in (the) light of
- in the light of
- in the long run
- in the loop
- in the lurch
- in the market
- in the middle
- in the money
- in the name of
- in the nick of time
- in the offing
- in the public eye