oba

[ aw-buh ]

/ ˈɔ bə /

noun

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

Nearby words

ob, ob-, ob-gyn, ob., ob/gyn, oba, obad., obadiah, obama, obamacare, oban

Origin of oba

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oba

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
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

British Dictionary definitions for oba

oba

/ (ˈɔːbɑː, -bə) /

noun

(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