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