Origin and history of voivode

voivode(n.)

local or provincial ruler in Transylvania, Moldavia, etc., 1560s, also vaivode, from Russian voevoda, originally "leader of the army," from Old Church Slavonic voji "warriors" + -voda "leader." Compare Serbian vojvoda, Polish wojewoda. Hungarian vajvoda (later vajda), Lithuanian vaivada are borrowed from Slavic. Related: Voivodeship. In the Balkans a former title of princes; in Turkey an inferior administrative official.

also from 1560s

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Dictionary entries near voivode