dey


Also found in: Acronyms, Wikipedia.

dey

 (dā)
n.
1. Used formerly as the title of the governor of Algiers before the French conquest in 1830.
2. Used formerly as the title for rulers of the states of Tunis and Tripoli.

[French, from Turkish dayı, maternal uncle, protector, dey; akin to Old Turkic tağāy, maternal uncle.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dey

(deɪ)
n
1. (Historical Terms) the title given to commanders or (from 1710) governors of the Janissaries of Algiers (1671–1830)
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the title given to commanders or (from 1710) governors of the Janissaries of Algiers (1671–1830)
3. (Historical Terms) a title applied by Western writers to various other Ottoman governors, such as the bey of Tunis
4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a title applied by Western writers to various other Ottoman governors, such as the bey of Tunis
[C17: from French, from Turkish dayi, literally: maternal uncle, hence title given to an older person]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dey

(deɪ)

n.
1. the title of the governor of Algiers before the French conquest in 1830.
2. a title sometimes used by the former rulers of Tunis and Tripoli.
[1650–60; < French < Turkish]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
Then she would gather it to her heart and pour out her love upon it in a frenzy of kisses, moaning, crying, and saying, "Dey sha'n't, oh, dey sha'nt'!'--yo' po' mammy will kill you fust!"
De angels is gwine to 'mire you jist as much as dey does 'yo mammy.
'em putt'n dey han's up 'fo' dey eyes en sayin' to David and Goliah en dem yuther prophets, 'Dat chile is dress' to indelicate fo' dis place.'"
Dey ain't no man kin ever sell mammy's po' little honey down de river now!"
Dey's done it--yes, en dey was de biggest quality in de whole bilin', too--kings!"
He said dey ain't nobody kin save his own self-- can't do it by faith, can't do it by works, can't do it no way at all.
Me sall no do boast of dat neider: for what can me do oderwise dan consider of de good of dose poor people who go about all day to give me always de best of what dey get.
His majesty, then turning towards Jones, said, "Sir, you have hear what dey say; what punishment do you tink your man deserve?"
When dey do not bite off your thumbs dey are always dying from nostalgia-homesick-for dey haf der imperfect soul, which is midway arrested in defelopment-und too much Ego.
No use goin' on; de dam willains will keep a scrougin' and slappin' each oder, Massa Stubb; dey don't hear one word; no use a-preachin' to such dam g'uttons as you call 'em, till dare bellies is full, and dare bellies is bottomless; and when dey do get em full, dey wont hear you den; for den dey sink in de sea, go fast to sleep on de coral, and can't hear not'ing at all, no more, for eber and eber.
Dey'll get yehs," screamed a retreating Rum Alley child.
I was goin' teh lick dat Riley kid and dey all pitched on me."