bwana

American  

[bwah-nuh] / ˈbwɑ nə /

noun

1. (in Africa) master; boss.

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bwana British  

/ ˈbwɑːnə /

noun

1. (in E Africa) a master, often used as a respectful form of address corresponding to sir

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Etymology

Origin of bwana

1875–80; < Swahili < Arabic abūnā our father

Example Sentences

That’s understandable, but seeing the lion population further reduced just so some bwana wannabe can boast he bagged a lion does not.

From Washington Times • Sep. 10, 2019

Hope is a bogus bwana who writes reams about his African adventures but has actually never been anywhere wilder than the Museum of Natural History.

From Time Magazine Archive

In addition to his anachronistic "bwana, great white hunter" image, as Wildlife Federation Executive Vice President Jay Hair derisively puts it, environmentalists have substantive differences with Arnett.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I shall stand with you, bwana," said the chief, "and now come and look upon the stranger, who sleeps within my village."

From Beasts of Tarzan by Burroughs, Edgar Rice

A little later a shadowy figure appears by your cot and says, "Chai, bwana" which means, "Tea, master."

From In Africa Hunting Adventures in the Big Game Country by McCutcheon, John T.