East Indies. Forms: 6 samoryn, 7 samorine, -orein, -aryn, -arine, zamori, -ourin, (-erhin), 7–8 samori, 7, 9 samorin, 8–9 zamorim, 9 zamorine, 7– zamorin. [a. Pg. samorim, çamorim (It. samory, 16th c.), ad. Malayalam sāmūri, of disputed origin.] ‘The title for many centuries of the Hindu Sovereign of Calicut and the country round’ (Yule).
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xiv. 33 b. They called him Samoryn, which in theyr tongue is Emperour.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 204. All souerayne authority shuld rest in the king of Calecute, with the title of Samori.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 111. Since the establishment of the Portuguez in those parts, the power of Zamourin is grown so low,… the King of Cochim is more powerful then he.
1776. Mickle, trans. Camoens’ Lusiad, Introd. p. xlvii. Gama sent two of his officers with Monzaida to wait upon the Zamorim at his palace of Pandarene.
1862. Beveridge, Hist. India I. I. vii. 156. Calicut,… was then the capital of a Hindoo sovereign, who, under the title of samiry or zamorin, ruled a considerable extent of country.
1883. F. Day, Indian Fish (Fish. Exhib. Publ.), 17. The Samorin, in 1513, sent a deputation to Portugal.
