Home British & World English abdest

Definition of abdest in English:

abdest

(also abdast)

noun

Islam

  • The ritual washing of parts of the body before prayer or handling the Qur'an; = "woodoo".

Origin

Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Paul Rycaut (1629–1700), diplomat and author. From Ottoman Turkish abdest (Turkish abdest) and (in later use) its etymon Persian ābdast from āb water + dast hand, forearm.

Pronunciation

abdest

/ˈabdɛst//ˈɑːbdɛst/