sheik
[sheek, sheyk]
- Also shaikh, sheikh. (in Islamic countries) the patriarch of a tribe or family; chief: a term of polite address.
- Slang. a man held to be masterful and irresistibly charming to women.
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Origin of sheik
First recorded in 1570–80, sheik is from the Arabic word shaykh old man
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for sheikh
Contemporary Examples
Though he claimed to be a sheikh, he had none of the qualifications.
One example is Muhammed Asel, kreef to the Yazidi and a Muslim Arab sheikh from a village on the north side of the mountain.
On the Ground, Collaborators With ISIS Could Be Its Big WeaknessChristine van den Toorn
August 30, 2014
Sheikh Raad al-Khafaji had invited me to break the Ramadan fast in the headquarters of his recruiting operation.
The sheikh is ready to flee if the Lebanese security forces, considered to be in thrall to Hezbollah, make a move to arrest him.
She even lauded the “amazing hospitality” of Sheikh Khalifa and the “Kingdom of Bahrain” on Twitter (before deleting the tweets).
Kim Kardashian Butts Into Syria’s (Online) Civil War With #SaveKessab CampaignMarlow Stern, Michael Weiss
March 31, 2014
Historical Examples
Well, they couldn't make it, because the tomb of a popular saint or sheikh was in the way.
It Happened in EgyptC. N. Williamson
Somebody's trying to defeat my scheme for getting the sheikh's tomb moved.
It Happened in EgyptC. N. Williamson
Our Scribe, at least, is persuaded that Sheikh Taleb spoke as a friend.
The Book of KhalidAmeen Rihani
And let the sheikh and the priest and the rabbi embrace on that very Stump and make up.
The Book of KhalidAmeen Rihani
And Wisdom in the person of Sheikh Taleb now knocks at thy door.
The Book of KhalidAmeen Rihani
sheikh
sheik
- the head of an Arab tribe, village, etc
- a venerable old man
- a high priest or religious leader, esp a Sufi master
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Word Origin
C16: from Arabic shaykh old man
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for sheikh
sheik
n.
"head of an Arab family," also "head of a Muslim religious order," 1570s, from Arabic shaykh "chief," literally "old man," from base of shakha "to grow old." Popularized by "The Sheik," novel in Arabian setting by E.M. Hull (1919), and the movie version, "The Sheikh," 1921, starring Rudolph Valentino, which gave it a 1920s sense of "strong, romantic lover."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper