Emir
/ɪˈmɪər/noun
A Muslim ruler, commander, or prince, especially in the Middle East or North Africa.
Did you know?“Emir” entered English through Arabic and ultimately comes from a Semitic root meaning “to command,” which is why it has always carried authority, not just nobility.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
PS
*ʔ-m-r
“to command, order, speak”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
amīr
“commander, prince, leader”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
amīr
“military commander or provincial ruler”
Medieval French
French
émir
“a Muslim prince or commander”
Modern English
English
emir
“a Muslim ruler or commander, especially in the Middle East”