kavass

A kavass stands guard at the entrance to a grand building.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Armed police officer: "kavass" refers to a member of an armed police force, historically in the Ottoman Empire.
   • Servant or attendant: "kavass" also denotes a personal servant or attendant, especially in Turkish contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The kavass stood guard at the gate of the consulate. (An armed police officer on duty.)
  • He worked as a kavass for a wealthy Turkish family. (A personal servant or attendant.)

Advanced Usage

• "to serve as a kavass": to act in the role of an armed guard or attendant.
  • During the Ottoman period, many Albanians served as kavasses for foreign diplomats. (They worked as armed guards.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kavass (noun, plural: kavasses): the same word with a regular plural form.
  • The kavasses patrolled the streets of Istanbul. (Multiple armed police officers.)

Synonyms

• Guard: a person who protects or watches over something.
• Attendant: a person who serves or accompanies another.
• Constable: a police officer, especially in a historical or regional context.

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms are associated with "kavass" due to its specialized historical usage.)