dervish meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

dervish

nounalso spelled Dervish

UK /ˈdɜːvɪʃ/

Etymology From Ottoman Turkish درویش (derviş), from Persian درویش (darvêš, “poor; Sufi mystic”), from Middle Persian dlgwš (driyōš, “poor, needy”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *drigu-, cognate with Sanskrit ध्रिगु (dhrigu, “needy”) and Avestan 𐬛𐬭𐬌𐬔𐬎 (driguš).

› An itinerant Sufi mystic practicing…

Islam, Lifestyle, Religion Historical A citizen or inhabitant of Darawiish (circa 1895–1920 C.E.), an anti-colonial polity in modern Somalia headed by Sufis.

Islam, Lifestyle, Religion Historical One of the followers of Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi of the Sudan, in the 1880s.

Islam, Lifestyle, Religion Broadly Any irregular guerrilla fighter resembling the Sudanese Mahdi in equipment, uniform, tactics, etc.

The Hejaz war, meanwhile, would be one of dervishes against regular troops.1926, T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, New York: Anchor, published 1991, page 104:

Derived terms: dervishhood, dervishism, dervishlike, Whirling Dervish

Dervish

noun

/ˈdɜː(ɹ)vɪʃ/

Etymology From Turkish derviş, from Persian درویش (darviš).

A member of a Sufi Muslim ascetic fraternity of mendicant friars.

Historical A citizen or inhabitant of Darawiish (circa 1895–1920 C.E.), the Dhulbahante anti-colonial polity geographically corresponding with Khaatumo.

Derived terms: Whirling Dervish