Aiwa, effendi----Yea, noble sir. Allah----God. Allah-haly ‘m
alla-haly----A singsong of river-workers. Allah Kerim----God is
bountiful. Allshu Akbar----God is most Great. A’l’meh----Female
professional singers Antichi----Antiquities.
Backsheesh----Tip, douceur, bribe. Balass----Earthen vessel for carrying
water. Basha----Pasha. Bersim----Grass. Bimbashi----Major. Bishareen----A
native tribe. Bismillah----In the name of God. Bowab----A doorkeeper.
Corvee----Forced labour.
Dahabeah----A Nile houseboat with large lateen sails.
Darabukkeh----A drum made of a skin stretched over an earthenware funnel.
Doash----(Literally) Treading. A ceremony performed on the return of the
Holy Carpet from Mecca.
Dourha----Maize.
Effendina----Highness. El aadah----The ordinary. El Azhar----The Arab
University at Cairo. Fantasia----Celebration with music, dancing, and
processions. Farshoot----The name of a native tribe. Fatihah----The
opening chapter of the Koran, recited at weddings, etc.
Feddan----The most common measure of land--a little less than an acre.
Also dried hay.
Fellah (plu. fellaheen)----The Egyptian peasant.
Felucca----A small boat, propelled by oars or sails.
Fessikh----Salted fish.
Ghaffirs----Humble village officials.
Ghawdzee----The tribe of public dancing-girls. A female of this tribe is
called “Ghazeeyeh,” and a man “Ghazee,” but the plural
Ghawazee is generally understood as applying to the female.
Ghimah----The Mahommedan Sunday.
Gippy----Colloquial name for an Egyptian soldier.
Goolah----Porous water-jar of Nile mud.
Hakim----Doctor.
Hanouti----Funeral attendants.
Hari-kari----An Oriental form of suicide.
Hashish----Leaves of hemp.
Inshallah----God willing.
Jibbeh----Long coat or smock, worn by dervishes.
Kavass----An orderly.
Kemengeh----A cocoanut fiddle.
Khamsin----A hot wind of Egypt and the Soudan.
Khedive----The title granted in 1867 by the Sultan of Turkey to the ruler
of Egypt.
Khiassa----Small boat.
Khowagah----Gentleman.
Koran----The Scriptures of the Mahommedans.
Kourbash----A stick, a whip.
La ilaha illa-llah----There is no God but God. Mafish----Nothing.
Magnoon----Fool. Malaish----No matter. Mamour----A magistrate.
Mankalah----A game. Mastaba----A bench. Mejidieh----A Turkish Order.
Mirkaz----District. Moghassils----Washers of the dead. Moufetish----High
steward. Mudir----A Governor of a Mudirieh or province. Muezzin----The
sheikh of the mosque who calls to prayer. Mushrabieh----Lattice window.
Naboot----Quarter staff. Narghileh----The Oriental tobacco-pipe. Nehar-ak
koom said----Greeting to you. Omdah----The head of a village.
Ooster----One of the best sort.
Ramadan----The Mahommedan season of fasting. Reis----Pilot.
Saadat el basha----Excellency.
Sais----Groom.
Sakkia----Persian water-wheel.
Salaam----A salutation of the East; an obeisance, performed by bowing
very low and placing the right palm on the forehead and on the
breast.
Sarraf----An accountant.
Shadoof----Bucket and pole used by natives for lifting water.
Sha’er----A reciter. (The singular of Sho’ara, properly signifying a
poet.)
Sheikh-el-beled----Head of a village.
Shintiyan----Very wide trousers, worn by the women of the middle and
higher orders.
Sitt----“The Lady.”
Tarboosh----Fez or native turban. Tarah----A veil for the head.
Ulema----Learned men.
Waled----A boy. Wekeel----A deputy. Welee----A favourite of Heaven;
colloquially a saint.
Yashmak----A veil for the lower part of the face. Yelek----A long vest or
smock, worn over the shirt and shintiyan.
Zeriba----A palisade.