nawab

The story

1. Arabic · derived fromنُوَّاب
2. Persian · derived fromنوّاب
3. Urdu · derived fromنواب
4. Hindi · derived fromनवाब
5. English todaynawab

From Hindi नवाब (navāb)/Urdu نواب (navāb), from Persian نوّاب (navvâb), ultimately from Arabic نُوَّاب (nuwwāb), plural of نَائِب (nāʔib, “naib”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. A Muslim official in South Asia acting as a provincial deputy ruler under the Mughal empire; a local governor.