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doyen

[doi-en, doi-uhn; Fr. dwa-yan]

Origin

noun, plural doy·ens

[doi-enz, doi-enz; Fr. dwa-yan] .

the senior member, as in age, rank, or experience, of a group, class, profession, etc.

Origin:
1665–75; < French; Old French deien < Latin decānus dean¹

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Doyen is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

doyen (ˈdɔɪən, French dway)

—n
	the senior member of a group, profession, or society

[C17: from French, from Late Latin decānus leader of a group of ten; see dean]

doyenne

—*fem n*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

doyen

early 15c., from M.Fr. doyen "commander of ten," from O.Fr. deien (see dean).

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