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From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās (“father”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, and bwana.

• (Received Pronunciation, General American, Canada, Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈæbət/

  • Audio (US):

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  • Audio (Canada):

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• (Standard Southern British, Northern England, Scotland, Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈabət/
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈɛbət/
• Homophones: Abbot, Abbott
• Rhymes: -æbət

abbot (plural abbots)

1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. [First attested around the early 12^th century.]^[1][2]

   The newly appointed abbot decided to take a tour of the abbey with the cardinal's emissary.

2. The pastor or administrator of an order, including minor and major orders starting with the minor order of porter.
3. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.
4. (archaic, British slang) A brothel-owner's husband or lover.^[3][4]
5. (archaic, British slang) A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer.^[3][4]

• Gullah: aabut

• Webster 1913

From Old Swedish abbot, abot, abbote, abote, from Latin abbās, from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abbé.

• IPA^(key): /ˈabːɔt/

abbot c

1. an abbot

• munk

• “abbot”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “abbot”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)