marabout
/ˈmarəbuːt
/noun
1A Muslim holy man or hermit, especially in North Africa.At the mosque, the marabout (Islamic holy man) and the father give the baby an Arabic name from the Koran....
- The Maghrib, including Tunisia, has many legends involving Muslim leaders called marabouts (holy men).
- Many Guineans rely on their traditional spirit beliefs and rely on marabouts (dervishes believed to have supernatural powers) and fetishes (superstitious objects) in times of trouble.
1.1A shrine marking the burial place of a Muslim holy man or hermit.
Origin
Early 17th century: via French and Portuguese from Arabic murābiṭ 'holy man'.