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a sheikdom in the Persian Gulf, consisting of a group of islands: formerly a British protectorate; declared independent 1971. 232 sq. mi. (601 sq. km).
Capital: Manama.
the largest island in this group: oil fields. 213 sq. mi. (552 sq. km).
Contemporary Examples

They just say beat up on the Saudis about Bahrain and completely ignore joining the broader policy issue.
The Rise of ‘Foreign Policy Birthers’ Leslie H. Gelb April 22, 2011

I recall an evening of tear gas, helicopters, snipers, and stone throwing around my car during a visit to Bahrain in 1994.
Bahrain Uprising: High Stakes for the U.S. Bruce Riedel February 18, 2011

“The issues at stake in Bahrain predate the Arab Spring,” Husain said in an interview with The Daily Beast.
Bahrain Opposition No Pawn of Iran’s Mullahs, Shiite Leader Says Eli Lake November 9, 2011

With only a half million natives (and another half million foreign workers) Bahrain is a pygmy in Arab politics.
Bahrain Uprising: High Stakes for the U.S. Bruce Riedel February 18, 2011

“Nobody wants an Islamic state,” says Nabeel Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
Bahraini Dissident Blogger Ali Abdulemam Missing For One Year Madison Shimoda March 24, 2012

The Sunni minority in Bahrain could not last without Saudi money and tanks.
Revolution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Bruce Riedel January 19, 2013

All Arabs from Morocco to Bahrain have felt this seismic shift.
Arab Spring: Revolutionaries Reflect on the One-Year Anniversary Mike Giglio January 24, 2012

If you are Qatar or Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, your nightmare is Iran, not Zionism.
Can The Peace Camp Cope With ‘Fragility’? Bernard Avishai May 12, 2013

Historical Examples

Hopeful reform is already taking hold in an arc from Morocco to Jordan to Bahrain.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006 Various

And now all the Arabians of Bahrain had become converts to his religion.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 4 Various

noun
an independent sheikhdom on the Persian Gulf, consisting of several islands: under British protection until the declaration of independence in 1971. It has large oil reserves. Language: Arabic. Religion: Muslim. Currency: dinar. Capital: Manama. Pop: 1 281 332 (2013 est). Area: 678 sq km (262 sq miles)
Bahrain [(bah-rayn)]

Island kingdom in the Persian Gulf off the coasts of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Note: British protectorate from 1820 to 1971.

Note: Revenues from oil reserves, first discovered in 1931, have funded some of the most progressive programs in the Arabian nations.