voivode

English

Alternative forms

• vaivode
• vayvoda
• voivod
• waywode

Etymology

Variously from a number of Slavic languages: Bulgarian войвода, Serbo-Croatian vòjvoda, Czech vojvoda, Polish wojewoda, all from Proto-Slavic *vojevoda.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈvɔɪvəʊd/

Noun

voivode (plural voivodes)

1. A local ruler or official in various parts of central and eastern Europe, especially early semi-independent rulers of Transylvania.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.27:

     George Sechell [...], having beene defeated in a battell by the Vayvoda of Transilvania, and taken Prisoner, was for three dayes together tyed naked to a wooden-horse, exposed to all manner of tortures, any man might devise against him [...].

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Chapter 3:

     Who was it but one of my own race who as Voivode crossed the Danube and beat the Turk on his own ground? This was a Dracula indeed!

2. An administrative chief in modern Poland.

Derived terms

• voivodeship