nabob
UK[ˈneɪbɒb]US[ˈneɪbɑːb]
n
A person of great wealth and prominence, especially one who has returned from India with a large fortune.
n
A Muslim official or governor under the Mughal empire in India.
Etymology
The word 'nabob' entered the English language in the early 17th century, borrowed from the Hindi and Urdu 'nawwāb', which itself was derived from the Arabic 'nuwwāb', the plural of 'nā'ib', meaning 'deputy' or 'viceroy'. In its original context, it referred to a provincial governor or deputy ruler in the Mughal Empire. British colonialists in India later applied the term to any wealthy, powerful Indian, especially one who had amassed a fortune. Upon the return of such individuals to Britain, the meaning generalized further in English to describe any conspicuously wealthy person of high social standing, often with a connotation of ostentation derived from their Eastern riches.
Analysis
This word is a loanword borrowed directly into English as a single, unanalyzable unit from the Hindi and Urdu languages.
Examples
The retired merchant lived like a nabob in his country estate.
His lavish spending earned him a reputation as a nabob of the industry.
The old portrait depicted a 19th-century nabob in formal attire.