(formerly) a non-Muslim subject of the Ottoman Empire
Also (less common): raia
Word origin
C19: from Turkish raiyye, from Arabic ra'iyah herd, flock
rayah in American English
(ˈrɑːjə, ˈraiə)
noun
a Christian subject of an Ottoman ruler
Also: raya
Word origin
[1805–15; ‹ Turk reaya ‹ Ar ra'īyah subject, lit., flock; cf. ryot]This word is first recorded in the period 1805–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: alpaca, makeup, phase, platinum, polarization