MAMELUKE

Etymology

Noun

mameluke (plural mamelukes)

A member of a military regime created and run originally by freed white European slaves, which formed a ruling caste in Egypt from 1250 until 1812 and in Syria until 1516.

(obsolete) A slave (especially European and white) in a Middle Eastern Muslim country.

Noun

Mameluke (plural Mamelukes)

Alternative letter-case form of mameluke

Source: Wiktionary


Mam"e*luke, n. Etym: [F. mamelouk, cf. Sp. mameluco, It. mammalucco; all fr. Ar. maml a purchased slave or captive; lit., possessed or in one's power, p. p. of malaka to possesses.]

Definition: One of a body of mounted soldiers recruited from slaves converted to Mohammedanism, who, during several centuries, had more or less control of the government of Egypt, until exterminated or dispersed by Mehemet Ali in 1811.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

28 April 2024

POLYGENIC

(adjective) of or relating to an inheritable character that is controlled by several genes at once; of or related to or determined by polygenes


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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