marabout

Where does the word "marabout" come from? It comes from Arabic rabata, passing through Arabic, Portuguese and French before entering English (1600s).

Marabout’s story begins in Arabic: rabata meant “to bind, tie.” Meant "to bind, to tie". Within Arabic, it grew into murabit by medieval. Literally "one who is bound/stationed," a hermit or ascetic living in a fortified religious outpost. From there it passed into Portuguese as marabuto by 1500s. From Arabic 'murabit', the Almoravid warrior-monks of North Africa; also the name of a stork. French picked it up next, as marabout, around 1600s. Spread through French colonial contact in North and West Africa. It reached English by 1600s as marabout. Entered English describing revered Muslim religious teachers and their shrines in North Africa. Today, marabout means a Muslim religious leader or hermit in North Africa, revered as a holy man; also, his shrine or tomb.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval rabata "to bind, tie", meant "to bind, to tie".
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval murabit "religious hermit, ascetic", literally "one who is bound/stationed," a hermit or ascetic living in a fortified religious outpost.
3. Stage 3 · Portuguese · 1500s marabuto "Muslim holy man", from Arabic 'murabit', the Almoravid warrior-monks of North Africa; also the name of a stork.
4. Stage 4 · French · 1600s marabout "Muslim holy man, shrine", spread through French colonial contact in North and West Africa.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1600s marabout "Muslim holy man or hermit", entered English describing revered Muslim religious teachers and their shrines in North Africa.