begum

¹ American  

[bee-guhm, bey-] / ˈbi gəm, ˈbeɪ- /

noun

1. (in India) a high-ranking Muslim woman, especially a widow.

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begum ² American  

[bih-guhm] / bɪˈgʌm /

verb (used with object)

begummed, begumming

1. to smear, soil, clog, etc., with or as if with gum or a gummy substance.

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begum British  

/ ˈbeɪɡəm /

noun

1. (in Pakistan and certain other Muslim countries) a woman of high rank, esp the widow of a prince

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Etymology

Origin of begum¹

1625–35; < Urdu begam ≪ Turkic begim, apparently a derivative of beg. See bey

Origin of begum¹

be- + gum ¹

Example Sentences

There was talk among Bangladesh's rulers at the time to keep the two "battling begums" - Zia and Hasina - out of politics in what was then known as the "minus two formula".

From BBC

As heirs to political dynasties, both women have dominated Bangladesh politics for more than three decades and used to be known as the "battling begums".

From BBC

Amid all the fear, the battling begums continue to trade insults.

From Economist

In Bangladesh the two battling begums have ensured that no other politician gets a look-in.

From Economist

I do not have high hopes that the hot war between the two begums can be successfully mediated.

From Forbes