boyar

[ boh-yahr, boi-er ]

noun

Russian History. a member of the old nobility of Russia, before Peter the Great made rank dependent on state service.
a member of a former privileged class in Romania.

Origin of boyar

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier boiaren, from Russian boyárin, akin to Old Church Slavonic bolyarinŭ (translating Greek megistán “man of high status”), Bulgarian bolyár(in); further origin uncertain

Also bo·yard [boh-yahrd, boi-erd]. /boʊˈyɑrd, ˈbɔɪ ərd/.

Other words from boyar

bo·yar·ism, bo·yard·ism, noun

Words Nearby boyar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use boyar in a sentence

They attach themselves as a rule to some great noble or boyar, and call themselves by his name.
Dracula | Bram Stoker
His wife uttered a cry of alarm, the boyar swore loudly and thumped Kiril on the back.
Moscow | Fred Whishaw
Whereat the mother crossed herself and muttered a prayer and the boyar laughed boisterously.
Moscow | Fred Whishaw
The boyar ordered his people to find out the peasant—(that is to say) to look for such and such a physician.
Russian Fairy Tales | W. R. S. Ralston
The pony boyar, delicately scenting something more than wood-smoke, snorted and swerved.
Overland Red | Henry Herbert Knibbs

British Dictionary definitions for boyar

boyar

/ (ˈbəʊjɑː, ˈbɔɪə) /

noun

a member of an old order of Russian nobility, ranking immediately below the princes: abolished by Peter the Great

Origin of boyar

C16: from Old Russian boyarin, from Old Slavonic boljarinǔ, probably from Old Turkic boila a title

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

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