Etymology Map
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Dey

4 stages from Ottoman Turkish to English.

Today it means the title of the rulers of Ottoman Algiers (and at times Tunis and Tripoli) until 1830

Where does the word "dey" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish dayı, passing through Ottoman Turkish (Algiers) and French before entering English (1650s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
dayı
Ottoman Turkish · 1500s
"maternal uncle"
a familiar name the Janissaries gave respected elders among them
2
Stage 2 of 4
dayı
Ottoman Turkish (Algiers) · 1671
"ruler of Algiers"
from 1671 the Janissary garrison of Algiers elected its own ruler under this title
3
Stage 3 of 4
dey
French · 1700s
"ruler of Algiers"
in 1827 Dey Hussein struck the French consul with a fly-whisk, the pretext for France's conquest of Algiers in 1830
4
Stage 4 of 4
dey
English · 1650s
"governor of Algiers"
used by English traders and treaty-makers dealing with the Barbary states
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Read the full story

Dey’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: dayı meant “maternal uncle.” A familiar name the Janissaries gave respected elders among them. By 1671, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish (Algiers) as dayı. From 1671 the Janissary garrison of Algiers elected its own ruler under this title. From there it passed into French as dey by 1700s. In 1827 Dey Hussein struck the French consul with a fly-whisk, the pretext for France's conquest of Algiers in 1830. It reached English by 1650s as dey. Used by English traders and treaty-makers dealing with the Barbary states. Today, dey means the title of the rulers of Ottoman Algiers (and at times Tunis and Tripoli) until 1830.