Glossary

Aiwa, effendi----Yea, noble sir. 
Allah----God. 
Allah-haly 'malla-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-akkoom 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.