noun, plural beys.
- a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire.
- (formerly) a title of respect for Turkish dignitaries.
- (formerly) the title of the native ruler of Tunis or Tunisia.
noun
- (in the Ottoman Empire) a title given to senior officers, provincial governors, certain other officials or nobles, and (sometimes) Europeans
- (in modern Turkey) a title of address, corresponding to Mr
“governor of a Turkish district,” 1590s, from Turkish bey, a title of honor, the Osmanli equivalent of Turkish beg.