browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
deys |
1 definition found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Dey \Dey\, n.; pl {Deys}. [Turk. d[=a]i, orig., a maternal uncle, then a friendly title formerly given to middle-aged or old people, especially among the Janizaries; and hence in Algiers, consecrated at length to the commanding officer of that corps, who frequently became afterward pasha or regent of that province; hence the European misnomer of dey, as applied to the latter: cf F. dey.] The governor of Algiers; -- so called before the French conquest in 1830.
This work is licensed under a
