begum

¹

[bee-guhm, bey-]

noun

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

begum

²

[bih-guhm]

verb (used with object)

begummed, begumming 

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

begum

/ ˈbeɪɡəm /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of begum¹

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

Origin of begum²

be- + gum ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of begum¹

C18: from Urdu begam , from Turkish begim ; see _bey

Example Sentences

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

Bangladesh suffers a dysfunctional two-party system in which the two leaders, the “battling begums”, wage mutual vendettas at the country’s expense.

From Economist

The economy is now twice as big as when the kleptocratic and incompetent rule of Mrs Zia’s government ended in 2006—the moment the army locked up both battling begums.

From Economist