bey
nounUK /beɪ/ · US /beɪ/
Etymology Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish بك (bey, “gentleman, chief”), from Old Anatolian Turkish بك (beg, “ruler”), from Proto-Turkic *bēg (“lord”). See there for more.
1
Historical A governor of a province or district in the Turkish (e.g. Ottoman) dominions.
- She was chaperoned by the widow of a Bey whose son had been at Oxford with him, and this gave him the excuse to exchange a few words with her, and then to be presented to the Princess.1978, Lawrence Durrell, Livia (Avignon Quintet), Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 512:
- Whether his position with the Third Circle made the difference or the fact that he ranked as a bey, life in El Iskandryia was proving easier than he'd ever dreamed possible when he stepped off the plane.2005, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Pashazade, page 15:
2
In various other places, a prince or nobleman.