Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A descendant of the prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima.
  • noun The chief magistrate of Mecca in Ottoman times.
  • noun A Moroccan prince or ruler.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A simplified spelling of sheriff.
  • noun A high dignitary having both temporal and spiritual authority among the Sulus and other Mohammedans of the Philippine Islands.
  • noun A descendant of Mohammed through his daughter Fatima.
  • noun A prince or ruler; specifically, the chief magistrate of Mecca.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Arabic šarīf, noble, from šarufa, to be highborn; see śrp in Semitic roots.]

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