Haidee

/haɪˈdiː/ noun

Definition

a female character name, specifically the enslaved daughter of an Algerian corsair in Byron's poem 'The Corsair,' representing the exotic romantic heroine.

Etymology

Created by Lord Byron (1788-1824) as a fictional character name for his 1814 poem; the name and character became iconic in Romantic literature, embodying the 'exotic other' in European imagination.

Kelly Says

Haidee became so culturally famous that her name was used for operas, novels, and even a ship—Byron's Romantic invention of an idealized Eastern maiden influenced how Europeans imagined the Middle East for generations.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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