sherif

[she-reef]

noun

a governor of Mecca descended from Muhammad.
an Arab chief, prince, or ruler.

Also sharif, she·reef.

Origin of sherif

First recorded in 1590–1600, sherif is from the Arabic word sharīf exalted (person)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sherif

Contemporary Examples of sherif

“This country is as divided as it has ever been,” said Sherif Taher.
Egypt’s Military Holiday Marred By Deaths
Alastair Beach
October 7, 2013
On the night of Feb. 11, 2011, Sherif Mansour walked onto his balcony, furtively lit a cigarette, and began to cry.
Freedom House NGO Worker Returns to Egypt to Face Trial
Mike Giglio
June 3, 2012

Historical Examples of sherif

But the Sherif must have thought us mad, and never troubled to come and see how we got on.
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad
His word decided everything—ever since the smashing of Sherif Ali.
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad
Sherif felt that some sort of discipline must be maintained among his flock.
The River War
Winston S. Churchill
But it happened that in a few weeks Sherif had occasion to journey to the island of Abba.
The River War
Winston S. Churchill
He was jealous of Sherif and envied him his sanctimonious disciples.
The River War
Winston S. Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for sherif

sherif

shereef sharif

noun plural ashraf Islam

a descendant of Mohammed through his daughter Fatima
(formerly) the governor of Mecca
an honorific title accorded to any Muslim ruler

Word Origin for sherif

C16: from Arabic sharīf noble

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