Dey (?), n. [See Dairy.]

A servant who has charge of the dairy; a dairymaid.

[Obs.]

Chaucer.

 

© Webster 1913.


Dey (?), n.; pl. Deys (#). [Turk. dai, orig., a maternal uncle, then a friendly title formerly given to middle-aged or old people, especially among the Janizaries; and hence, in Algiers, consecrated at length to the commanding officer of that corps, who frequently became afterward pasha or regent of that province; hence the European misnomer of dey, as applied to the latter: cf. F. dey.]

The governor of Algiers; -- so called before the French conquest in 1830.

 

© Webster 1913.