: a ruling official of the Ottoman Empire in northern Africa

Word History

Etymology

French, from Turkish dayı, literally, maternal uncle

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dey was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near dey

Cite this Entry

“Dey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dey. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on dey

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!