dey

[ dey ]

noun

1. the title of the governor of Algiers before the French conquest in 1830.
2. a title sometimes used by the former rulers of Tunis and Tripoli.

dey

/ deɪ /

noun

1. the title given to commanders or (from 1710) governors of the Janissaries of Algiers (1671–1830)
2. a title applied by Western writers to various other Ottoman governors, such as the bey of Tunis

Word History and Origins

Origin of dey¹

1650–60; < French < Turkish dayι originally, maternal uncle

Word History and Origins

Origin of dey¹

C17: from French, from Turkish dayi, literally: maternal uncle, hence title given to an older person

Example Sentences

Perhaps he holds up a manila folder and declares “I is all done wit me quahtahly repahts boss, and dey is IRIE!”

From The Daily Beast

Yis, all alone, sept de two tousand Caffres ob de kraal; but dey is nobody—only black beasts.

From Project Gutenberg

She's done got a pow'ful quick tempah, my Miss Betty has, same's all my Somerset family had, bein' fust quality folks lak dey was.

From Project Gutenberg

Dey's squar little towels what you holds in yer lap to wipe yer fingers on when you've done eatin'.

From Project Gutenberg

She couldn't larn, an' de Lord took her whar dey don't ask what you knows,—only dis: does you lub de Lord?

From Project Gutenberg

But dey can't hang me, no sah, dey can't, 'cause mah man croak two weeks later.

From Project Gutenberg