[F. usine factory, (in early use) water-mill.] A factory; esp. in later use, a West Indian sugar factory.
In first quot. the word is misapplied.
1798. W. Eton, Turk. Empire, 216. Their furnaces are of usine, which is particularly adapted to the casting of iron.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, 396. Usine, a glass-house; an iron-work.
1878. Times, 10 May, 4/3. Furnaces and vast usines.
1888. Daily News, 13 April, 5/4. Of these usines, or crushing factories, there are already several in Trinidad, St. Lucia, and British Guiana.
