abbot

abbot · noun¹

1. Aramaic · derived fromאבא“father”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀββᾶς
3. Latin · derived fromabbās“father”
4. Old English · inherited fromabbat
5. Middle English · inherited fromabbot
6. English todayabbot

From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās (“father”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, and bwana.

Abbot · proper noun²

Variant spelling of Abbott.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around the early 12ᵗʰ century. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.