/ˈneɪbɑb/, /ˈneɪbɒb/
OriginIn colloquial usage in English since 1612, from a corruption of Hindustani नवाब (navāb) / نواب (navāb, “nawab”), perhaps via Portuguese nababo, from Classical Persian نَوَّاب (nawwāb), from Arabic نُوَّاب (nuwwāb), the honorific plural of نَائِب (nāʔib, “deputy”).
- historicalAn Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
“They have drained the treasuries of Nabobs, who must fill them by oppressing the industry of their subjects.”
- broadlySomeone of great wealth or importance.
“Mr. Glentworth had never quitted Europe, and his wealth was either good English landed property, or equally undeniable English consols; still he was a stranger, very rich, and suddenly come from abroa”
“Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings”
- broadlyA person with a grandiose style or manner.
Formsnabobs(plural)