dragoman

[drag-uh-muhn]

noun

plural

dragomans, dragomen 

1. (in the Middle East) a professional interpreter.

dragoman

/ ˈdræɡəʊmən /

noun

1. (in some Middle Eastern countries, esp formerly) a professional interpreter or guide

Other Word Forms

• dragomanic adjective
• dragomanish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragoman¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from French; replacing Middle English drogman “interpreter,” from Middle French drog ( o ) man, dragoman, from Medieval Greek drago ( u ) mános, from Semitic; compare Arabic tarjumān, Akkadian targumannu

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragoman¹

C14: from French, from Italian dragomano, from Medieval Greek dragoumanos, from Arabic targumān an interpreter, from Aramaic tūrgemānā, of Akkadian origin

Example Sentences

He saw himself as a latter-day dragoman, referring to the Ottoman-era interpreters who mediated talks between Turkish, Arabic and Persian rulers and European governments.

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A dragoman was found, a certain Don Alfonso reported to be comparatively honest.

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I was seated at His Majesty's right, with the dragoman next to me, and the Grand Vizier was at the left; down both sides sat the pashas, their breasts sparkling with diamond orders.

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It is the order in which he visited the monuments to which the dragomen attached their names, and it thus throws a welcome light on the course of his movements.

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He discounted the timorous statements of his dragoman, Ibrahim, but one who knew had warned him at El Ksar.

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Related Words

• linguist