bey

bey (Ottoman title)

noun BEH Rare

Origin: From Turkish bey, meaning 'lord' or 'chief.'

Usage Note

Bey is a historical title used in the Ottoman Empire for governors and military commanders of a rank below pasha. In French historical and literary texts it appears when discussing North African or Near Eastern rulers. The word is invariable in French and is now purely a historical term.

Examples

"Le bey régnait sur la province."

Natural Translation

The bey ruled over the province.

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