a province of France, bounded on the north, by Burgundy and the Franche Comte; on the east, by Savoy; on the south, by Viennois; on the west, by the principality of Dombes and the Somme. It is 40 miles from north to south, and 23 from east to west. It is fertile in corn and hemp, has fine pastures, and several lakes with plenty of fish. It is divided into the higher and lower; the first is on the side of Bourges, and the second towards St Trivier and the river Sonne. The French got possession of it in 1601. The principal places are Bourgen, Bresse, Montluc, Pont de Vaux, and Coligny.