oba

[ aw-buh ]

noun
  1. a hereditary tribal ruler among various peoples in the Benin region of western Africa.

Origin of oba

1
First recorded in 1900–05, oba is from the Edo word ɔ́bá

Words Nearby oba

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use oba in a sentence

  • The “oba-Mao” T-shirts on souvenir stands around town were sellouts and his entourage snarled traffic for miles.

    What the Chinese Heard | Carolynne Wheeler | November 18, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Yoritomo, having been defeated in a battle against oba Kage-chika, was forced to retreat with six of his followers.

    Myths & Legends of Japan | F. Hadland (Frederick Hadland) Davis
  • oba Kagetoki departed, none too pleased with the mission, for he had once been on friendly terms with Yoritomo.

    Myths & Legends of Japan | F. Hadland (Frederick Hadland) Davis

British Dictionary definitions for oba

oba

/ (ˈɔːbɑː, -bə) /


noun
  1. (in W Africa) a Yoruba chief or ruler

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012