Mahound

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic derogatory name for the Prophet Muhammad used by medieval Christians ; a name for a devil or a false idol in old romances and drama
2. A medieval Christian slur for the Prophet Muhammad ; a term for a demon or pagan false god in old literature
3. Once a contemptuous label for Muhammad in medieval writings ; an old name for a devil or heathen deity in literary texts

Etymology: Medieval Christians turned the Prophet's name into a term of contempt. "Mahound" comes from Middle English "Mahown," which passed through Anglo-Norman "Mahun" and Old French "Mahum" or "Mahom," all shortened from "Mahomed," the French and English form of "Muhammad." Over centuries the name of the founder of Islam was twisted into a word for a false god and, in the literature of the period, for a demon. The sense shift is the striking part. A proper name became a common noun, so that writers could speak of "a mahound" as they might speak of an idol or a devil. The word was used in Christian polemic and in romance literature, where it stood for the enemy faith in general rather than for any one historical figure. The same process produced "mammet," a related word that came to mean an idol or puppet, and the two are usually discussed together. Both show how distorted versions of "Mahomed" settled into English as names for something worthless or sinister.