dragoman

Definition

An interpreter, especially for the Arabic and Turkish languages.

Etymology

From Middle English dragman, from Old French drugeman, from Medieval Latin dragumannus, from Byzantine Greek δραγομάνος (dragomános), from Arabic تُرْجُمَان (turjumān), from Classical Syriac ܬܰܪܓܡܳܢܳܐ (targmānā), from Akkadian 𒅴𒁄 (targumannum, “interpreter”). With the plural form -men, through reinterpretation as suffixed with -man. Doublet of truchman.

Example Sentences

• "Engaging William Prime's (q.v.) dragoman, he visits the bazaars, mosques, and Pyramids before sailing in the dahabeeya Rip Van Winkle up the Nile."
• "Dragomans altered the pasha's language to put it in a form best suited to performing the act that the principal intended. […] Far from being ‘free’, the dragomans' reformulation of the words of the source expressed subservience to their principal's intention."