Definition of 'dey'

Word Frequency

dey in British

(deɪ )

noun

the title given to commanders or (from 1710) governors of the Janissaries of Algiers (1671–1830)

a title applied by Western writers to various other Ottoman governors, such as the bey of Tunis

Word origin of 'dey'

C17: from French, from Turkish dayi, literally: maternal uncle, hence title given to an older person

Word Frequency

dey in American

(deɪ ; dā)

noun

the former title of the governor of Algiers

a pasha in the former Barbary States of Tunis and Tripoli

Word origin of 'dey'

Fr dey < Turk dāi, maternal uncle: orig., friendly title given to an older person

Example sentences containing 'dey'

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She'd asked Mrs Odowis once, `Why dey go behind the counter? Emecheta, Buchi GWENDOLEN (2002)You know, France get very angry, dey tell the Presidarn he haff to do someting or dey tek away de investmarn. Robert Wilson INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS (2002)Putting her hands akimbo she remarked under her breath, `So much done dey change huh? Emecheta, Buchi GWENDOLEN (2002)

Trends of 'dey'

Used Occasionally. dey is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'dey'

Source

Definition of dey from the Collins English Dictionary

Demonstratives

Demonstratives are used to specify the distance of something in space or time in relation to the speaker. The demonstratives are: this, that, these, those. This and these refer to objects near the s...