Bedouin

or Bed·u·in

[ bed-oo-in, bed-win ]

noun

, plural Bed·ou·ins, (especially collectively) Bed·ou·in.

1. an Arab of the desert, in Asia or Africa; nomadic Arab.
2. a nomad; wanderer.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Bedouin.

Bedouin

/ ˈbɛdʊɪn /

noun

1. -ins-in a member of any of the nomadic tribes of Arabs inhabiting the deserts of Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, as well as parts of the Sahara
2. a wanderer or rover

adjective

1. of or relating to the Bedouins
2. wandering or roving

Other Words From

• Bedou·in·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bedouin¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Bedoynes (plural), from Old French beduyn (singular), from Arabic badawīn “desert-dwellers,” plural of badawī, equivalent to badw “desert” + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin; in the Western languages, the Arabic plural form -īn was interpreted to be part of the basic form

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bedouin¹

C14: from Old French beduin , from Arabic badāwi , plural of badwi , from badw desert

Example Sentences

When they are at last rescued by a Bedouin, Saint-Exupéry equates him to “the nobility and generosity” of “Man” himself.

From Washington Post

Bedouin women wore bright clothes and burqas, the parting of their hair and their kohl-lined eyes left exposed.

From The Daily Beast

Many of the Bedouin and Christians, especially, are doing their best to distance themselves from the violence.

From The Daily Beast

Egyptian authorities do have some reason to doubt Berber and Bedouin loyalty.

From The Daily Beast

One role the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Berbers would be perfectly suited to is aiding the army in its frontier patrols.

From The Daily Beast

The first state-sanctioned Bedouin town in the Negev, named Tel Sheva, was established in 1968.

From The Daily Beast

The similitude is a calumny on the descendants of Ishmael; the fiercest Bedouin are refined and mild compared with the Apaches.

From Project Gutenberg

Down a leafy way charged a squadron of Bedouin light horse, twenty, perhaps, and more.

From Project Gutenberg

The ports which are thus found among the breakers are like the hospitality of the fierce Bedouin—friendly and sure.

From Project Gutenberg

Are thy relations with thy driver, I wonder, those of the Bedouin and his steed?

From Project Gutenberg

"Better a Bedouin in the trackless desert than a man who is forever running the gauntlet at such a risk," he said embarrassingly.

From Project Gutenberg