boyar [boh-yahr, boi-er] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- Russian History. a member of the old nobility of Russia, before Peter the Great made rank dependent on state service.
- a member of a former privileged class in Romania.
Also bo·yard [boh-yahrd, boi-erd] /boʊˈyɑrd, ˈbɔɪ ərd/. Origin of boyar 1585–95; earlier boiaren Russian boyárin, akin to OCS bolyarinŭ (translating Greek megistán man of high status), Bulgarian bolyár(in); of disputed orig.Related formsbo·yar·ism, bo·yard·ism, noun Examples from the Web for boyar Historical Examples of boyar
Upon the tale the boyar had brought him he offered now no comment.
The Historical Nights Entertainment, Second Series
Rafael Sabatini
In the Bukowina every gentleman or proprietor of land is called Boyar.
Frederick Shoberl
Their souls are like the soul of Yorga’s mother, the boyar’s daughter.
Konrad Bercovici
Here I am noble; I am boyar; the common people know me, and I am master.
Bram Stoker
Many a mercenary perished, but finally not a boyar remained alive.
Various
British Dictionary definitions for boyar boyar noun
- a member of an old order of Russian nobility, ranking immediately below the princes: abolished by Peter the Great
Word Origin for boyar C16: from Old Russian boyarin, from Old Slavonic boljarinǔ, probably from Old Turkic boila a title Word Origin and History for boyar n.
member of a Russian aristocratic class (abolished by Peter the Great), 1590s, from Russian boyarin, perhaps from boji “struggle,” or from Slavic root *bol- “great.”