a term of respect for the head of a religious group, esp. in Pakistan and various areas of the Middle and Near East
2.
a religious instructor, esp. in mystical sects
Word origin
[1665–75; ‹ Hindi, Urdu pīr old man ‹ Pers]This word is first recorded in the period 1665–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: newsletter, recessive, regulation, suite, wader