mullah
Americannoun
-
(in Islamic countries) a title of respect for a person who is learned in, teaches, or expounds the sacred law.
-
(in Turkey) a provincial judge.
noun
Etymology
Origin of mullah
1605–15; < Persian or Urdu mullā < Arabic mawlā; see maulvi
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.
A mullah sat on a raised dais as he explained in measured terms the rationale of the Islamic Republic.
From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2022
He also defended his actually making a personal call with a Taliban mullah, which was noted as having previously been “unthinkable” in media reports at the time.
From Washington Times • Sep. 22, 2022
Soon after, the mullah, loud and angry, came over the mosque loudspeaker.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2021
“If the United States had not come to Afghanistan, I would have probably become a mullah or a Talib,” he said with a dark laugh.
From Washington Post • Sep. 12, 2021
He began to say more, about going to a mosque, finding a mullah, a pair of witnesses, a quick nikka .
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
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.
