abbot

From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās (“father”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא‎ (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, bwana.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæb.ət/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæb.ət/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: Abbot
• Rhymes: -æbət

abbot (plural abbots)

1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. [First attested around the early 12^th century.][1][2]

   The newly appointed abbot decided to take a tour of the abbey with the cardinal's emissary.

2. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.
3. (archaic, British slang) A brothel-owner's husband or lover.[3][4]
4. (archaic, British slang) A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer.[3][4]

• Gullah: aabut

• prior
• rector
• monk

• Webster 1913

From Old Swedish abbot, from Latin abbās, from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא‎ (’abbā, “father”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈabːɔt/

abbot c

1. an abbot

• munk

• abbot in Svenska Akademiens ordbok online.
• abbot in Svenska Akademiens ordlista över svenska språket (13th ed., online)