Etymology

marabout

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Today it means: A Muslim holy man or mystic, especially in parts of North Africa. Full definition →

First used 17th c.French marabout ← Portuguese maraboto ← Moroccan Arabic مْرَابِط
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The story

  1. Moroccan Arabic · derived fromمْرَابِط
  2. Portuguese · derived frommaraboto
  3. French · derived frommarabout
  4. English todaymarabout

From French marabout, from Portuguese maraboto, marabuto, from Moroccan Arabic مْرَابِط (mrabeṭ) (standard Arabic مُرَابِط (murābiṭ, “soldier stationed in fortified outpost”)).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. A Muslim holy man or mystic, especially in parts of North Africa.
  • from 19th c. The tomb or shrine of such a person.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.