Bedawi
/bɪˈdɑːwi/noun
A member of a traditionally nomadic Arab group of the desert, or relating to such people.
Did you know?The word ultimately contrasts desert-dwelling Arabs with settled agricultural and urban communities, reflecting an ancient social distinction preserved in Arabic vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
badw
“The open desert or countryside, contrasted with settled habitation”
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
badawī
“A person associated with the desert or open country”
7th Century
Arabic
al-badawī
“A desert-dweller; a member of the nomadic Arab population”
18th–19th Century
French/English
Bedouin / Bedawi
“European and English forms used for Arab desert nomads and their culture”
Modern English
English
Bedawi
“A variant of Bedouin, especially in anthropological, historical, or regional writing”