nabob

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   dated, often disparaging: a very wealthy, powerful, or self-important person

   Pap mocked the well-dressed professor as the grandest old nabob in the state.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: a provincial governor or ruler in the Mughal Empire; a nawab

   The company's agents negotiated with the nabob who governed the province.

3. 3
   noun

   historical British: a European who returned wealthy from service or trade in India

   The newly returned nabob bought a country estate with his overseas fortune.

Simplified etymology

Nabob entered English in the early 17th century from Urdu nawāb, ultimately from Arabic nuwwāb, “governors.” In 18th-century Britain it came to denote a wealthy man who had made his fortune in India.

An English alteration of nawab, through Portuguese nababo from Hindustani navab, ultimately Arabic nuwwab, the plural of na'ib, 'deputy.' British use shifted from an Indian ruler to a person enriched in India, then to any wealthy or self-important magnate.

Topics

External links

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