seraglio

views updated May 18 2018

se·ragl·io / səˈrälyō/ • n. (pl. -ios) 1. the women's apartments (harem) in a Muslim palace. ∎ another term for harem (sense 2).2. (the Seraglio) hist. a Turkish palace, esp. the Sultan's court and government offices at Constantinople.

seraglio

views updated May 21 2018

seraglio the women's apartments (harem) in a Muslim palace. The Seraglio was also formerly the term for a Turkish palace, especially the Sultan's court and government offices at Constantinople. The word comes (in the late 16th century) via Italian and Turkish from Persian sarāy ‘palace’.

Seraglio

views updated May 29 2018

Seraglio

the inmates of a harem, 1634; a house of women kept for debaucheryJohnson, 1755.

Examples : seraglio of the godly (i.e., a nunnery), 1672; of flattering lusts, 1711; of maids of honour, 1860; a cock and a seraglio of seven hens, 1773.

seraglio

views updated Jun 11 2018

seraglio harem; Turkish palace. XVI. — It. serraglio — Turk. — Pers. sarāi palace.