Ras
/rɑːs/noun
A former Ethiopian title for a high-ranking official, prince, or provincial governor.
Did you know?The title became globally recognizable through Ras Tafari Makonnen, whose name inspired the term Rastafari after he became Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*raʔš-
“Head or top”
Ancient Semitic
Geʿez
ras
“Head; chief”
Medieval Ethiopia
Geʿez
ras
“A chief or high-ranking noble”
19th Century
Amharic
ras
“Title of a prince, governor, or senior official”
19th–20th Century
English
ras
“An Ethiopian title adopted into English writing”
Modern English
English
Ras
“A historical Ethiopian title, often appearing in names and cultural references”