Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See cavass.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Turkey An armed constable; also, a government servant or courier.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A Turkish armed policeman or courier

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Turkish  (kavass)

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Examples

  • He called the kavass, the uniformed consular attendant, and sent him in search of Kagig.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1920

  • He called the kavass, the uniformed consular attendant, and sent him in search of Kagig.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Talbot Mundy 1909

  • A magnificent kavass in blue and silver stood outside.

    Greenmantle 2005

  • There they jumped into an araba with a kavass on the box, dashed down Pera Street, past the banking quarter, over the Galata bridge, up the Sublime Porte Road and into the Bayazid Square, where they reached their destination.

    Round the World in Seven Days Herbert Strang

  • "Oh, hullo!" said Monty over his shoulder, as our names were called out by the stately consular kavass.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1920

  • "Cuckoo, you ass!" laughed Fred, kicking the chair over backward, and then piling all the veranda furniture on top, to the scandalized amazement of the stately kavass, who came at that moment shepherding a small boy with a large tray and perfectly enormous drinks.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1920

  • "Oh, hullo!" said Monty over his shoulder, as our names were called out by the stately consular kavass.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Talbot Mundy 1909

  • "Cuckoo, you ass!" laughed Fred, kicking the chair over backward, and then piling all the veranda furniture on top, to the scandalized amazement of the stately kavass, who came at that moment shepherding

    The Eye of Zeitoon Talbot Mundy 1909

  • A magnificent kavass in blue and silver stood outside.

    Greenmantle John Buchan 1907

  • Curious was an evening visit to the Russian Embassy, Mrs. Straus being carried in a sedan-chair, her husband walking beside her in evening dress at one door, I at the other, and a kavass, with drawn sword, marching at the head of the procession.

    [Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White 1906

Comments

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  • n., an armed courier (esp. in Turkey)

    July 9, 2008