Africa, especially before the late 19th cent. when little was known of it
Dark Continent, The in American English
noun
a former name for Africa: used esp. in Europe and N America during the 19th century, because little was known about it
Word origin
[1875–80]This word is first recorded in the period 1875–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: authoritarian, cross-fertilization, fan-tan, slime mold, weekender