Nubian

[ noo-bee-uhn, nyoo- ]

noun

1. a member of any of the various peoples inhabiting Nubia.
2. the Nilo-Saharan language of the Nubians.
3. Obsolete. a Nubian slave.
4. a Nubian horse.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Nubia, its people, or their language.

Nubian

/ ˈnjuːbɪən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Nubia, an ancient region of NE Africa
2. the language spoken by the people of Nubia

adjective

1. of or relating to Nubia or its inhabitants
2. informal.
   of or relating to Black culture

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nubian¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; Nubia, -an

Example Sentences

Quite intriguingly, an analysis of bones of ancient Nubian people made in 2010 revealed the presence of tetracycline, an antibiotic that is also used in our modern times for treating bacterial infections.

From Realm of History

One of the famous allied troops pertained to the Medjay, who were basically Nubian desert scouts of the ancient Egyptian military deployed as an elite paramilitary police force during the New Kingdom period.

From Realm of History

The solo voice of the Nubian sailor was lost in the chorus of voices which came floating over the Nile.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nubian wore black tights and shirt, black slippers and a white skull cap and breech-clout.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nubian women especially exhibit a grace and dignity of movement which reveal the nobleness of their origin.

From Project Gutenberg

At the further end of this corridor a Nubian slave appears carrying the torch.

From Project Gutenberg

It has a lion's body, in a couching posture, with the head and face of a Nubian female, and is of most enormous dimensions.

From Project Gutenberg