nabob
9.9
A high official who ruled part of India under the Mughal emperors
- noun
- /ˈneɪbɑb/
- Archaic
:
nabob
- As a nabob in India, he oversaw the collection of taxes and maintenance of order.
Examples
-
In addition, at the Montevideo cemetery, the tomb of this obscure laborer had the amplitude of the mausoleum of a nabob, or even a small necropolis.
Fiction book (1990) -
The nabob ruled over the province with great authority during the Mogul empire.
-
The stories of the powerful nabobs who once governed India are often told in history books.
Synonyms
2
9.9
A Muslim governor in India during the Mughal empire who ruled a province
is a general term for a high official in India during that period
naib
vsnabob
1
9.9
A local leader who runs a town or region in some Muslim countries
is higher ranked and tied to India rather than local deputies elsewhere
9.9
A person who leads a community or region in South Asian history
is specifically an official governor in India rather than any leader
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nabob comes from the Indian title nawab, which itself comes from Arabic nāib meaning 'deputy'. A nabob was a governor or high official in India, so the word still carries the idea of someone with official power.