boyar

American  

[boh-yahr, boi-er] / boʊˈyɑr, ˈbɔɪ ər /

Also boyard

noun

1. Russian History. a member of the old nobility of Russia, before Peter the Great made rank dependent on state service.

2. a member of a former privileged class in Romania.

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boyar British  

/ ˈbɔɪə, ˈbəʊjɑː /

noun

1. a member of an old order of Russian nobility, ranking immediately below the princes: abolished by Peter the Great

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Other Word Forms

• boyardism noun
• boyarism noun

Etymology

Origin of boyar

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier boiaren, from Russian boyárin, akin to Old Church Slavonic bolyarinŭ (translating Greek megistán “man of high status”), Bulgarian bolyár(in); further origin uncertain