nabob
UK /ˈneɪbɒb/ · US /ˈneɪbɑb/ noun
Forms nabobs
- noun (historical) An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
- noun (by extension) Someone of great wealth or importance.
- noun (by extension) A person with a grandiose style or manner.
Synonyms
Etymology
In colloquial usage in English since 1612, from a corruption of Hindustani नवाब (navāb) / نواب (navāb, “nawab”), perhaps via Portuguese nababo, from Classical Persian نَوَّاب (nawwāb), from Arabic نُوَّاب (nuwwāb), the honorific plural of نَائِب (nāʔib, “deputy”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A deputy or viceroy in India; a governor of a province of the ancient Mogul empire.
- noun One who returns to Europe from the East with immense riches: hence, any man of great wealth. " A bilious old nabob." Macaulay.
Etymology [Hind. nawab, from Ar. nawab, pl. of na\'8bb a vicegerent, governor. Cf Nawab.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “nabob”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details