bey

[ bey ]
/ beɪ /

noun, plural beys.

a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire.
(formerly) a title of respect for Turkish dignitaries.
(formerly) the title of the native ruler of Tunis or Tunisia.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Turkish beg.

Origin of bey

1590–1600; < Turkish, by-form of earlier beg, Old Turkic beg subordinate chief, head of a clan, perhaps < a MChin word akin to Chinese bǎi hundred (Guangdong dial. baak)

Words nearby bey

bewitch, bewitching, bewray, bexhill, bexley, bey, beyle, beylic, beyond, beyond a doubt, beyond comparison
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for bey

British Dictionary definitions for bey

bey
/ (beɪ) /

noun

(in the Ottoman Empire) a title given to senior officers, provincial governors, certain other officials or nobles, and (sometimes) Europeans
(in modern Turkey) a title of address, corresponding to Mr
Also called: beg

Word Origin for bey

C16: Turkish: lord
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012