giaour

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A non-Muslim, especially a Christian, an infidel; especially as used by Turkish people with particular reference to Christians such as Greeks, Armenians, Bulgarians, Serbs and Assyrians.

Pronunciation

/ˈd͡ʒaʊə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-giaour.wav /ˈd͡ʒaʊəɹ/

Word forms

giaour giaours

Etymology

Borrowed from French giaour, from Ottoman Turkish كاور (gâvur), from Classical Persian گَاوُر (gāwur), a variant of گَبْر (gabr, “infidel”); see there for more. Doublet of Gheber and Gueber.

Synonyms

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