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Showing 1-20 of 72 results in 72 entries
1. abbasi, n. View full entry 1615
...A Persian silver coin (originally weighing approx. 9.33 grams) equivalent in value to two mahmudi (mahmudia) or 200 dinars, first issued by the Safavid Shah Abbas I (reigned ...
2. abjad, n. View full entry 1793
...A system of notation in which each of the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet is assigned a numerical value. Now chiefly hist....
3. acker, n.2 View full entry 1937
...A piastre. hist. in later use....
4. afion, n. View full entry 1542
...Opium, esp. in a raw liquid form....
5. Alcoran, n. View full entry c1405
...The sacred book of Islam; = Qur'an Usu. with the. Now chiefly hist....
6. alfaqui, n. View full entry 1600
...Chiefly in medieval and early modern Spain: a Muslim cleric, an expert in Islamic law....
7. almeh, n. View full entry 1786
...In Egypt: a trained female entertainer of a type that was formerly engaged to dance, sing, or recite poetry; (sometimes more loosely) a dancing girl or (in recent use) a prostitute. Cf....
8. almug, n. View full entry 1539
...More fully almug tree. A tree mentioned in the Bible (2 Chron. 2:8, 1 Kings 10:11), said to have been brought as timber from Ophir and used for building and...
9. Babi, n. and adj. View full entry 1850
...A member of a religious movement founded in Persia (modern Iran) in 1844 by Sayyid Ali Muhammad of Shiraz (‘the Bab’), which emphasizes the coming of a new prophet or...
10. carboy, n.1 View full entry 1711
...Originally: a large globular bottle, covered with basketwork for protection, used chiefly for transporting wine. In later use: a large globular bottle with a narrow neck for holding pharmaceutical or corrosive liquids...
11. chalukah, n. View full entry 1880
...The distribution of contributions or donations sent by the Jews of the diaspora to support the Jews in Palestine. Now Hist....
12. durbar, n. View full entry 1625
...The court of an Indian ruler. Also: a public audience or levee held by an Indian ruler, or by a British colonial ruler, esp. in India....
13. fedayeen, n. View full entry 1955
...With pl. concord. Militant Arab guerrilla fighters, not owing allegiance to any government or military establishment....
14. harem | haram, n. View full entry 1634
...The part of a Muslim dwelling-house appropriated to the women, constructed so as to secure the utmost seclusion and privacy; called also seraglio, and in Persia (now Iran) and India...
15. hatti, n. View full entry 1688
...During the Ottoman Empire: a decree or edict issued by the government of Turkey, differing from a firman in being personally approved of by the Sultan, and bearing his special...
16. Hubshee, n. and adj. View full entry a1627
...An Abyssinian (now hist.); an Ethiopian....
17. Kaffir, n. and adj. View full entry 1785
...= caffre1, ‘infidel’, Giaour....
18. ma'abara, n. View full entry 1950
...A transitional settlement for immigrants to Israel (see also quot. 1950). Chiefly hist....
19. mahmudi, n. View full entry 1612
...A Persian silver coin (originally weighing 4.5 grams, 69 grains) and later reduced to 2.3 grams, 35 grains), equivalent in value to two shahis, and first issued by the Safavid Shah Muhammad...
20. Mameluke, n. View full entry 1511
...A member of the regime established and maintained by emancipated white military slaves (originally Kipchaks, later Circassians) which ruled Egypt as a sultanate from 1250 until 1517, continuing...
