bey

[ bey ]

/ beɪ /

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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.

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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

with it, be, worked up, be, bewray, Bexhill, Bexley, bey, Beyle, beylic, Beyoǧlu, beyond, beyond a doubt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bey in a sentence

This is Bey and Nicki at their most lyrically masochistic, and boy, is it a treat.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her Highness, Queen Bey, dropped two new songs Friday morning.
Beyonce’s New “7/11” and “Ring Off” Will Give You Reason to Live (And Dance)|Kevin Fallon|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Feel free to use this sort-of-sad break up as a practice run for the sure-to-be-devastating demise of Bey and Jay.
Nick Cannon’s Not a Gigolo, But He Had Sex with Kim Kardashian|Amy Zimmerman|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bey's being accused of being a poor role model for young women?
Elevator Music Beyoncé Doesn’t Want to Hear: Jay Z’s ‘Mistress’ Drops ‘Sorry Mrs. Carter’|Amy Zimmerman|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the wake of ‘elevatorgate,’ rumors have been swirling that Hova may have stepped out on Queen Bey.
Did Beyoncé Just Accuse Jay Z of Cheating?|Marlow Stern|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Has he not just lent fifteen million francs as a simple loan passing from hand to hand, to the Bey of Tunis?
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
You see, old fellow, if the Bey should throw his handkerchief amid that group of loveliness there must be some one to pick it up.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
Instead of the Bey, Jansoulet got out, stiff and troubled, and passed without even seeing her.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
To attempt to snatch this prey from the Bey, excepting by a striking triumph at the Assembly, was not to be thought of.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
Look here Bey, I know the ways of you English, and youre sure to have a little dynamite; you always have.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram

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