nabob English · revision 1381

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈneɪbɒb/ ''(UK)''; /ˈneɪbɑb/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Anglo-Indian,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[bor|hi|नवाब|tr=navāb|t=governor]] or Urdu ''nawāb'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[ar|نُوَّاب|tr=nuwwāb]], the honorific plural of ''nāʼib'' “deputy, governor”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is the same word as [[nawab]].^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A deputy governor of a province under the Mogul Empire (1612).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was applied colloquially to Europeans who came home from India with a large fortune,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) and from 1764 to any very rich or prominent person.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1612 – a Mogul provincial governor.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1764 – a very rich man.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – ''nabobery''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A very wealthy, influential or prominent person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(history)'' A provincial governor in [[India]] under the [[Mogul]] Empire.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' A European who made a fortune in India.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nawab]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}