Badawi

/bəˈdɑːwi/ noun

Definition

A person from the Bedouin (Arab desert-dwelling) communities; historically, an Arab living a nomadic pastoral lifestyle in desert regions.

Etymology

From Arabic 'badawi' (بدوي), derived from 'bada' meaning desert. The term specifically refers to the Arab Bedouin people of North Africa and the Middle East, contrasting with settled urban Arabs (hadari). English borrowed this directly from Arabic sources.

Kelly Says

The Badawi represented one of history's most successful adaptation strategies—living sustainably in harsh deserts for millennia through sophisticated knowledge of water sources, animal husbandry, and trade routes that predated modern GPS by centuries.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.