marabout

1 of 2

noun (1)

mar·​a·​bout ˈmer-ə-ˌbü 

ˈma-rə-

variants often Marabout

: a dervish in Muslim Africa believed to have supernatural power

marabout

2 of 2

noun (2)

mar·​a·​bout

less common spelling of marabou

1

a

: a soft feathery fluffy material prepared from turkey feathers or the coverts of marabous and used especially for trimming women's hats or clothes

b

marabou : a large dark gray African stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) that has a distensible pouch of pink skin at the front of the neck and feeds especially on carrion

called also marabou stork

2

a

: silk composed of several twisted threads that is dyed before the sericin has been removed

b

: a fabric made of this silk

Examples of marabout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Block Museum exhibit features 30 portraits of marabouts, revered Islamic scholars and teachers, from the town of Djenné in Mali. — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

New designs this season included marabout feather pillbox shapes and colorful Sherlock Holmes caps. — Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Many marabouts, or religious teachers, respect children’s rights. — The Economist, 13 June 2019

Although fighters arrive in the arena clad in tracksuits that resemble American boxers, underneath are lucky charms prescribed by the increasingly influential marabouts. — Christian Bobst, National Geographic, 26 Mar. 2019

By her grace Zandria Robinson is a shaman, griot, marabout, holy figure in atypical package. — Tunde Wey, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from Portuguese marabuto, from Arabic murābiṭ

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for marabout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout