durbar

noun

dur·​bar ˈdər-ˌbär How to pronounce durbar (audio)
ˌdər-ˈbär
1
: court held by an Indian prince
2
: a formal reception held by an Indian prince or an African ruler

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Both foreground mounted Hausa riders in ceremonial durbar dress against a backdrop of iconographic Western figures – Zeus, Europa, Napoleon. Matthew Carey Salyer, Forbes, 4 May 2021 The final ritual is the durbar, similar to a bar mitzvah, quinceañera, or dipo of the Krobo tribe of Ghana. Alexandreena Dixon, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'durbar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu darbār, from Persian, from dar door + bār admission, audience

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of durbar was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near durbar

Cite this Entry

“Durbar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/durbar. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

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