A member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia, whose language and Islamic religion spread widely throughout the Middle East and northern Africa from the seventh century.
A member of an Arabic-speaking people.
An Arabian horse.
Offensive Slang A waif.
[French Arabe, from Latin Arabs, from Greek Araps, Arab-, from Arabic 'arab.]
c.1391 (Arabiens), from O.Fr. Arabe, from L. Arabs (acc. Arabem), from Gk. Araps (gen. Arabos), from Ar. 'arab, indigenous name of the people, perhaps lit. "inhabitant of the desert" (rel. to Heb. arabha "desert"). As a prized type of horse, it is attested from 1666. Meaning "homeless little wanderer, child of the street" is from 1848, in ref. to nomadic ways. Arab League formed in Cairo, March 22, 1945. Arabic numerals (actually Indian) first attested 1727; they were introduced in Europe by Gerbert of Aurillac (later Pope Sylvester II) after a visit to Islamic Spain in 967-970. A prominent man of science, he taught in the diocesan school at Reims, but the numbers made little headway against fierce conservative opposition in the Church until after the Crusades. The earliest depiction of them in Eng., in "The Crafte of Nombrynge" (c.1350) correctly identifies them as "teen figurys of Inde."
a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa
2.
a spirited graceful and intelligent riding horse native to Arabia [syn: Arabian]
Arab, AL (city, FIPS 2116) Location: 34.32964 N, 86.50013 W Population (1990): 6321 (2745 housing units) Area: 33.0 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 35016
Ar"ab\ (?; 277), n. [Prob. ultimately fr. Heb. arabah a desert, the name employed, in the Old Testament, to denote the valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea. Ar. Arab, Heb. arabi, arbi, arbim: cf. F. Arabe, L. Arabs, Gr. ?.] One of a swarthy race occupying Arabia, and numerous in Syria, Northern Africa, etc. Street Arab, a homeless vagabond in the streets of a city, particularly and outcast boy or girl. --Tylor. The ragged outcasts and street Arabs who are shivering in damp doorways. --Lond. Sat. Rev.
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