Mameluke

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from a European language such as Late Latin mameluc or Middle French mamelu, mameluch (modern French mameluk, mamelouk), borrowed from Arabic مَمْلُوك (mamlūk, “(adjective) owned, possessed; (noun) slave (especially a white slave)”), the passive participle of مَلَكَ (malaka, “to own, possess; to be the master”), from م ل ك (m l k, root relating to authority and possession). Doublet of mameluco. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmamɪl(j)uːk/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmæməˌluk/ Hyphenation: Mam‧e‧luke === Noun === Mameluke (plural Mamelukes) (historical) A member of various military regimes in the Middle East established and run by freed white slave soldiers, mainly from the Eurasian steppe or the Caucasus; in particular, those who formed a ruling caste in Egypt from 1250 until 1812 and in Syria from 1260 until 1516. (by extension) (derogatory) One who supports someone or something blindly or slavishly; specifically, one who supports the Roman Catholic Church in this manner. Synonyms: ovine, sheep (obsolete) A slave (especially one who is a white European) in a Middle Eastern Muslim country. ==== Usage notes ==== Since the 20th century, the form Mamluk has been preferred in scholarly writing as it more accurately transliterates the Arabic word. ==== Alternative forms ==== Mamaluke, mamaluke, mameluk, mameluke, Mamluk, mamluk, mamluke, mammaluke memlook ==== Derived terms ==== mameluke (“fool”) (US (Italian-American), derogatory, slang) Mamelukedom Mamelukery ==== Related terms ==== mameluco ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== janissary === Notes === === References === === Further reading === Mamluk on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Mamluk (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia