howadji

English

Alternative forms

howaji, howajji

Etymology

From Arabic خَوَاجَا (ḵawājā, “gentleman”), from Persian (xvâje, “gentleman”). The term came to be applied to merchants because they were formerly the chief travellers. Doublet of hodja.

Noun

howadji (plural howadjis)

(archaic) A traveller or merchant from the Middle East

References

“howadji”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

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