Definition

A person who was originally a slave, often of European descent, and became a soldier or member of a ruling class in certain Muslim countries, particularly in Egypt and Syria.

Example

The mameluke played a significant role in the military history of Egypt during the medieval period.

Conversation

I recently read about the mameluke soldiers in Egypt's history.

Oh really? What did they do?

They were quite powerful, acting as a ruling class for centuries.

That sounds fascinating! I didn't know they had such an impact.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mameluke → The word originates from Arabic 'mamlūk' (meaning owned or slave), which refers to a slave soldier in the medieval Islamic world, particularly in Egypt. The term was used to describe a specific class of military slaves who eventually gained power and ruled parts of the Middle East.

Memory Tip

Think of the Arabic word 'mamlūk', which means 'owned' or 'slave', to remember that a 'mameluke' refers to a soldier who was originally a slave.

Visually Confused Words