dragoman

[ drag-uh-muhn ]

noun

, plural drag·o·mans, drag·o·men.

1. (in the Middle East) a professional interpreter.

dragoman

/ ˈdræɡəʊmən /

noun

1. (in some Middle Eastern countries, esp formerly) a professional interpreter or guide

Other Words From

• drag·o·man·ic [drag-, uh, -, man, -ik], drago·man·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragoman¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from French; replacing Middle English drogman “interpreter,” from Middle French drog ( o ) man, dragoman, from Medieval Greek drago ( u ) mános, from Semitic; compare Arabic tarjumān, Akkadian targumannu

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragoman¹

C14: from French, from Italian dragomano, from Medieval Greek dragoumanos, from Arabic targumān an interpreter, from Aramaic tūrgemānā, of Akkadian origin

Example Sentences

By one of the French windows the dragoman Ibrahim was standing, perfectly still now, and looking steadily at her.

From Project Gutenberg

Our dragoman kept at bay all the clamouring crowd of porters, guides and nondescripts of all colours and races that besieged us.

From Project Gutenberg

Messrs. Gaze and Sons had ordered their guide (or dragoman as he was called) to meet us and devote himself to our service.

From Project Gutenberg

Ibrahim was twenty, but he was completely a boy, despite his great height and his tried capacities as a dragoman.

From Project Gutenberg

The Consul's dragoman, a grand-looking Israelite, was ready to go, but the engineer had just managed to break his leg.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• linguist