balabos

noun

bal·​a·​bos

variants or balebos

ˌbäləˈbȯs

or baal-ha-bos

ˌbäl(h)äˈ-

plural balabatim or baal-ha-batim

-ˈbätə̇m,

-ˌtēm

: a Jewish master of the house : a Jewish house owner or host

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish balebos, from Hebrew baʽal habbayith, literally, lord of the house

First Known Use

circa 1918, in the meaning defined above

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