rayahn.
/ˈrʌɪə/, U.S. /ˈraɪə/ Now historical.
A subject of the Ottoman Empire (esp. a non-Muslim) who is not a member of the ruling class, and is therefore liable to pay a poll tax (see kharaj n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Near East, Middle East, or Asia Minor > native or inhabitant of Turkey > [noun] > specific
rayah1723
1723 A. de la Mottraye Trav. I. xiii. 231 The conquer'd Subjects call'd Rayas, or Tributaries; as Greeks, Armenians and Jews, have all the Liberty they cou'd enjoy under their former Princes, only paying a very moderate Annual Tribute to his Highness.
1797 J. Dallaway Constantinople 83 The rayahs are known by a head-dress called a kalpac, made of lamb-skin, and inimitably ugly, differing entirely from a turban.
1813 Ld. Byron Bride Abydos ii. xx. 384 The last of Lambro's patriots there Anticipated freedom share; And oft around the cavern fire On visionary schemes debate,To snatch the Rayahs from their fate.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. v. 73 They might rise against their Government and fall upon the Christian rayahs.
1886 A. Weir Hist. Basis Mod. Europe (1889) 298 The Greeks..possessed a..status to which other Rayah populations could lay no claim.
1910 Geogr. Jrnl. 35 363 Some of these clans near the Turkish Government posts pay taxes direct to the Government and are called rayah, and are not supposed to be allowed to carry arms.
1943 L. Adamic My Native Land (ed. 3) 222 Self-seeking Serbians cooperated with the occupation, aiding it against the rayah.
1962 Slavic Rev. 21 619 The Muslim rayas were no closer than the non-Muslim rayas to the Ottoman rulers.
1998 S. Lawrence Montenegro 62 The Christian populations, the rayahs, of Bosnia, or Serbia, or Macedonia lived in relatively fertile lands that supported agriculture and industry of a sort.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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