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

He saw himself as a latter-day dragoman, referring to the Ottoman-era interpreters who mediated talks between Turkish, Arabic and Persian rulers and European governments.

From Economist

A dragoman was found, a certain Don Alfonso reported to be comparatively honest.

From Project Gutenberg

I was seated at His Majesty's right, with the dragoman next to me, and the Grand Vizier was at the left; down both sides sat the pashas, their breasts sparkling with diamond orders.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the order in which he visited the monuments to which the dragomen attached their names, and it thus throws a welcome light on the course of his movements.

From Project Gutenberg

He discounted the timorous statements of his dragoman, Ibrahim, but one who knew had warned him at El Ksar.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• linguist