island in the West Indies, between Cuba & Puerto Rico: divided between Haiti & the Dominican Republic: 29,418 sq mi (76,192 sq km)
See Hispaniola in American Heritage Dictionary 4
An island of the West Indies east of Cuba, divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Originally inhabited by Arawak Indians, it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 and was originally called Española. The western part (now Haiti) was ceded to France by Spain in 1697. The Dominican Republic, on the eastern part of the island, was formed in 1844.