Mameluke

[ mam-uh-look ]

noun

1. a member of a military class, originally composed of slaves, that seized control of the Egyptian sultanate in 1250, ruled until 1517, and remained powerful until massacred or dispersed by Mehemet Ali in 1811.
2. mameluke. Archaic. (in Muslim countries) a slave.

Mameluke

/ ˈmæmluːk; ˈmæməˌluːk /

noun

1. a member of a military class, originally of Turkish slaves, ruling in Egypt from about 1250 to 1517 and remaining powerful until crushed in 1811
2. (in Muslim countries) a slave

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mameluke¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from Arabic mamlūk literally, “slave,” noun use of past participle of malaka “to possess”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mameluke¹

C16: via French, ultimately from Arabic mamlūk slave, from malaka to possess

Example Sentences

As we travelled, my mameluke taught me to shoot with the bow, and made me buy finger-stalls and rings for this purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

Fortunately my mameluke bribed the Greek, and, in consideration of two ducats that I gave him, he opened the passage.

From Project Gutenberg

It was Mohammed Ali who settled the Mameluke problem in the conclusive way which sultans adopt at times.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, the sultan's favourites were not unaware of the unfriendly feeling with which they were regarded by the Mameluke chiefs.

From Project Gutenberg

She was fashionably dressed in a green spencer, with ‘Mameluke’ sleeves, and wore a velvet Spanish hat and feather.

From Project Gutenberg