a landlocked constitutional monarchy in southern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966

Basutoland is a former name of what is now Lesotho, in southern Africa. The mountainous and largely arid land that came to be Basutoland was populated by Bushmen (sometimes known as San) until the end of the 16th century. From then Bantu-speaking tribes began to migrate into the area, gradually forming various groups including the Basotho.