Mahomed

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An older spelling of Muhammad, the seventh-century prophet regarded as the founder of Islam, also used as a male given name
2. A historical spelling of the name of the prophet who founded Islam, still found as a first name in some cultures
3. Another form of Muhammad, the name of the prophet at the center of Islam and a common male first name in many countries

Etymology: The Arabic name "Muhammad" means "praised" or "commendable." It comes from the verb "hammada," meaning "to praise, commend, laud, extol," and the name is built on the triconsonantal root h-m-d shared by a family of Arabic words about praise. Its form is a passive participle, so the name literally describes someone who is praised. English speakers have long met the name in more than one shape, and "Mahomed" is one older spelling that reflects the way the name was rendered in European languages. The English word "Mahound" is a doublet of this name, meaning that both forms descend from the same source and entered English by different routes. In medieval Christian writing, "Mahound" was used as a derogatory term for the Prophet, and it gradually gained a second life as a name for the devil. The word "mammet," meaning an idol or doll, is also a doublet, showing how a religious name could drift into a general word for a figure or image.