nabob

[ ney-bob ]

noun

1. any very wealthy, influential, or powerful person.
2. Also a person, especially a European, who has made a large fortune in India or another country of the East.
3. nawab ( def 1 ).

nabob

/ ˈneɪbɒbərɪ; ˈneɪbɒb; neɪˈbɒbərɪ /

noun

1. informal.
   a rich, powerful, or important man
2. (formerly) a European who made a fortune in the Orient, esp in India
3. See nawab
   another name for a nawab

Derived Forms

• ˈnabobish, adjective
• nabobery, noun

Other Words From

• na·bob·er·y [ney, -bob-, uh, -ree, ney-, bob, -, uh, -ree], nabob·ism noun
• nabob·ish na·bobi·cal adjective
• nabob·ish·ly nabob·i·cal·ly adverb
• nabob·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nabob¹

From the Hindi word nawāb, dating back to 1605–15. See nawab

Word History and Origins

Origin of nabob¹

C17: from Portuguese nababo, from Hindi nawwāb; see nawab

Example Sentences

One nabob even seems to have commandeered the challenge to reignite an old grudge.

From The Daily Beast

She had made up her mind that at the first sign of danger she would turn Nabob and make a dash back down the trail for safety.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet a caveat is needed, for the intense interest we take in the characters of a novel like The Nabob scarcely suggests strolling.

From Project Gutenberg

Naturally an elaborate novel like The Nabob lends itself indefinitely to minute comment, but we must be sparing of it.

From Project Gutenberg

From time to time he would throw to the Nabob across the table a few words enigmatical for all.

From Project Gutenberg

Say one word, and I take you to see the Nabob, the great-hearted man who defrays the expense of our undertaking.

From Project Gutenberg