1555, pl. of Indie, Indy, from M.E. Ynde (c.1225) "India," from the O.Fr. form of L. India (see India). Commonly applied to Asia and the East, later applied to the Caribbean basin, in a time of geographical confusion, which was distinguished from Asia proper by being called the West Indies.
[in-deez] 
) West Indies (def. 1).