Mahound
/məˈhuːnd/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Muhammad, believed by medieval Europeans to be a demon or god that Muslims worshipped. archaic
"But, when he to himselfe returnd againe, / All full of rage he gan to curse and sweare, / And vow by Mahoune that he should be slaine."
- 2 The Devil. Ireland, Scotland, archaic
"And there were vessels that are wrought by magic of Mahound out of seasand and the air by a warlock with his breath that he blares into them like to bubbles."
- 3 A generic pagan god or idol believed by medieval Europeans to be worshipped by various villains such as Herod I. obsolete
Example
More examples"But, when he to himselfe returnd againe, / All full of rage he gan to curse and sweare, / And vow by Mahoune that he should be slaine."
Etymology
From Middle English Mahown, from Anglo-Norman Mahun, Old French Mahum, Mahom, shortened from Mahomed (“Muhammad”) (see Muhammad for more). Compare mammet.