‖ begum
(ˈbiːgəm)
Also 7 beggoon, begun, 9 beegum, begaum.
[Urdū (Pers.) begam, ad. Eastern Turkish big{iacu}m princess, fem. of big, bik prince (in Osmanli beg, bey).]
A queen, princess, or lady of high rank in Hindustan.
| 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 99 Queen, Begun. 1786 Burke Art. W. Hastings Wks. XI. 381 Prayer was made not to dishonour the Begum (a princess of great rank, whose husband had been killed in the battle). 1841 Macaulay W. Hastings, Ess. III. 431 Jewels torn from Indian Begums. |