Mamluk

noun

Mam·​luk ˈmam-ˌlük How to pronounce Mamluk (audio)
variants or Mameluke
plural Mamluks or Mamelukes
1
: a member of a politically powerful Egyptian military class occupying the sultanate from 1250 to 1517
2
often not capitalized : a white or east Asian enslaved person in a Muslim country

Examples of Mamluk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At first, the French Army, promising respect for Islam, represents liberation from Mamluk warlords. The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2024 The Mamluk efforts included the addition of a stone arcade to align the eastern wall toward Mecca and the design of an octagonal minaret. Bora Erden, New York Times, 28 May 2024 Named after Egypt’s first Fatimid caliph in the 10th century, the street is lined with palaces, mosques, and monuments of Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman rulers. Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023 Roman, Umayyad, Mamluk,Ottoman, British, and, among others, its future liberated state, with a robust network of trade and transportation. Curbed, 20 Oct. 2023 Instead, the objects clearly belonged to the period of the Islamic Mamluk sultanate. David M. Perry and Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Mamluk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Arabic mamlūk, literally, slave

First Known Use

circa 1506, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mamluk was circa 1506

Dictionary Entries Near Mamluk

Cite this Entry

“Mamluk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mamluk. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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