boyar

[ boh-yahr, boi-er ]

noun
  1. Russian History. a member of the old nobility of Russia, before Peter the Great made rank dependent on state service.

  2. a member of a former privileged class in Romania.

Origin of boyar

1
First recorded in 1585–95; earlier boiaren, from Russian boyárin, akin to Old Church Slavonic bolyarinŭ (translating Greek megistán “man of high status”), Bulgarian bolyár(in); further origin uncertain
  • Also bo·yard [boh-yahrd, boi-erd]. /boʊˈyɑrd, ˈbɔɪ ərd/.

Other words from boyar

  • bo·yar·ism, bo·yard·ism, noun

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

How to use boyar in a sentence

  • So he made a law for all the great boyars of his kingdom, that every one of them must build or buy him a ship.

    Rollo in Holland | Jacob Abbott
  • Yes, but only horrid melodies—for instance, that awful "The Entry of the Boyars."

    Plays--First Series | August Strindberg
  • Thereupon the princes and boyars of her council decided that the Princess must marry Prince Ivan.

    Russian Fairy Tales | W. R. S. Ralston
  • In the princely halls there were more boyars and nobles than a single glance could take in.

    Russian Fairy Tales | W. R. S. Ralston
  • Search was made for him among the boyars, among the generals; everyone was examined in his turn—but with no result!

    Russian Fairy Tales | W. R. S. Ralston

British Dictionary definitions for boyar

boyar

/ (ˈbəʊjɑː, ˈbɔɪə) /


noun
  1. a member of an old order of Russian nobility, ranking immediately below the princes: abolished by Peter the Great

Origin of boyar

1
C16: from Old Russian boyarin, from Old Slavonic boljarinǔ, probably from Old Turkic boila a title

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