Word
abbot
Phoneticsab·bot
US/ˈæbət/
UK/ˈæbət/
Definitions
01head of a monastery
n. the man who is the leader of a monastery or a group of monks.
n. the superior or head of an abbey or monastery for men.
“The abbot led the monks into the chapel for their morning prayers.”
“The newly elected abbot was responsible for both the spiritual guidance of the monks and the financial management of the monastery's lands.”
Usage
The title is used both as a common noun and as a formal title before a name.
02pimp or brothel associate
n. a man who lives with a woman who runs a brothel or who helps a prostitute find customers.
n. a man who is the husband or lover of a brothel-owner, or a man employed by a prostitute to find clients.
“In the old story, the abbot was a dangerous man who protected the illegal house.”
“The novel depicts the gritty underworld of Victorian London, where every local abbot and pickpocket knew the movements of the city watch.”
British English · Archaic · Slang
Usage
This sense is found almost exclusively in historical literature or dictionaries of Victorian slang.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“When power vacuums emerged after the death of an abbot, bishop or even the pope, regular people routinely ransacked their property, taking with them a substantial amount of the dead’s movables.” “Phra Wachirayan Wi, a former abbot at the prominent 14th-Century Wat Phutthaisawan in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, allegedly pocketed donations meant for the temple on more than 20 occasions over two years.” “The former abbot, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was well known for making amulets, with the Thai prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, reported to be among those who wore his creations.”