giaour

American  

[jou-^uhr, jou-er] / ˈdʒaʊ ər, ˈdʒaʊ ər /

noun

Turkish.

1. an unbeliever; a non-Muslim, especially a Christian.

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giaour British  

/ ˈdʒaʊə /

noun

1. a derogatory term for a non-Muslim, esp a Christian, used esp by the Turks

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Etymology

Origin of giaour

1555–65; earlier gower, gour < Turkish gâvur < Persian gaur, variant of gabr Zoroastrian, non-Muslim; spelling giaour < French, with gi- representing Turk palatalized g, later taken as spelling for j

Example Sentences

Beneath the clattering iron's sound The caverned echoes wake around In lash for lash, and bound for bound; The foam that streaks the courser's side Seems gathered from the ocean-tide: Though weary waves are sunk to rest, There's none within his rider's breast; And though to-morrow's tempest lower, 'Tis calmer than thy heart, young Giaour!

From Project Gutenberg

The hour is past, the Giaour is gone; And did he fly or fall alone?

From Project Gutenberg

"Wouldst thou speak, puppy of a giaour?" cried the Vizier, when he was already chained.

From Project Gutenberg

There go to the commandant, Ladislaus Székely, and speak to him thus: Ajas Pasha wishes thee good-day, thou unbelieving giaour, and sends thee this message: Inasmuch as thy dog-headed servants during the night last past have treacherously fallen upon the men of Feriz Beg and cut down four-and-twenty of them, now therefore I require of thee to search for and send me instantly these murderers, otherwise the whole weight of my wrath shall descend upon thine own head.

From Project Gutenberg

"And dost thou not believe then that the little finger of the Sublime Porte is able to give thee the lives of a few giaour hirelings, when it sends forth thousands to perish on the battle-field?"

From Project Gutenberg