bey

[ bey ]

noun,plural beys.
  1. a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire.

  2. (formerly) a title of respect for Turkish dignitaries.

  1. (formerly) the title of the ruler of Tunis or Tunisia.

Origin of bey

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Turkish, by-form of earlier beg, Old Turkic beg “subordinate chief, head of a clan,” perhaps from a Middle Chinese word akin to Chinese bǎi “hundred” (Guangdong diaect baak )

Words Nearby bey

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bey in a sentence

  • Has he not just lent fifteen million francs as a simple loan passing from hand to hand, to the bey of Tunis?

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • You see, old fellow, if the bey should throw his handkerchief amid that group of loveliness there must be some one to pick it up.

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • Instead of the bey, Jansoulet got out, stiff and troubled, and passed without even seeing her.

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • To attempt to snatch this prey from the bey, excepting by a striking triumph at the Assembly, was not to be thought of.

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • Look here bey, I know the ways of you English, and youre sure to have a little dynamite; you always have.

    The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram

British Dictionary definitions for bey

bey

/ (beɪ) /


noun
  1. (in the Ottoman Empire) a title given to senior officers, provincial governors, certain other officials or nobles, and (sometimes) Europeans

  2. (in modern Turkey) a title of address, corresponding to Mr

Origin of bey

1
C16: Turkish: lord
  • Also called: beg

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012