dey
Americannoun
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the title of the governor of Algiers before the French conquest in 1830.
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a title sometimes used by the former rulers of Tunis and Tripoli.
noun
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the title given to commanders or (from 1710) governors of the Janissaries of Algiers (1671–1830)
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a title applied by Western writers to various other Ottoman governors, such as the bey of Tunis
Etymology
Origin of dey
1650–60; < French < Turkish dayι originally, maternal uncle
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Who dey" got its own day on Monday.
From Fox News • Feb. 7, 2022
The other women sang back in harmony: “Martha, carry me dey go, dey go, dey go.”
From New York Times • Sep. 3, 2021
“Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?” the fans chanted.
From Washington Times • Nov. 5, 2019
“Tryin get dem roach eggs, tee-he, tee-he he he, gotta get the bleach on da roach eggs! Den dey won’t come back!”
From Salon • Feb. 5, 2014
“Folks seen you out in colors and dey thinks you ain’t payin’ de right amount uh respect tuh yo’ dead husband.”
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
