978-1-4222-3316-0

Series Glossary

hurricane— a very powerful and destructive storm, characterized by high winds and significant rainfall, that often occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea between June and November. leeward— a side that is sheltered or away from the wind. mestizo— a person of mixed Amerindian and European (typically Spanish) descent. offshore banking— a term applied to banking transactions conducted between partici- pants located outside of a country. Such transactions Some Caribbean countries have become known for this practice thanks to their banking laws. plaza— the central open square at the center of colonial-era cities in Latin America. plebiscite— a vote by which the people of an entire country express their opinion on a particularl government or national policy. population density— a measurement of the number of people living in a specific area, such a square mile or square kilometer. pre-Columbian— referring to a time before the 1490s, when Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. regime— a period of rule by a particular government, especially one that is considered to be oppressive. service industry— any business, organization, or profession that does work for a cus- tomer, but is not involved in manufacturing. windward— the side or direction from which the wind is blowing.

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