sb. and a. [a. F. Arabe, ad. L. adj. Arab-em (nom. Arabs), a. Gr. Ἄραψ, ‘Ἀραβ-.]
A. sb. 1. A native of Arabia.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1638), 258–9 (T.). Sabbath (… call’d … Dumaad by the vulgar Arabs).
1851. Ruskin, Stones Ven. (1874), I. App. 360. Neither an Arab nor Byzantine ever jests in his architecture.
2. An Arab horse (prized for pure breed and fleetness).
1880. G. Aberigh-Mackay, 21 Days in India (1881), 113. Next morning sees the entire party in the khadar of the river, mounted on Arabs.
3. (Orig. Arab of the City, City Arab, street Arab.) A homeless little wanderer; a child of the street.
1847. Guthrie, Plea for Ragged Sch., 19. These Arabs of the city are wild as those of the desert, and must be broken in to three habits,—those of discipline, learning, and industry, not to speak of cleanliness.
1848. Ld. Shaftesb., Sp. in Parl., 6 June. City Arabs … are like tribes of lawless freebooters, bound by no obligations, and utterly ignorant or utterly regardless of social duties.
1872. Calverley, Fly-Leaves (title), The Arab.
1883. Pall Mall G., 27 Oct., 5/1. The hero and heroine began life as street Arabs of Glasgow.
B. adj. Of or pertaining to Arabia or the Arabs.
1816. Shelley, Alastor, 129. An Arab maiden brought his food.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. XVI. 15. The delicate Arab arch of her feet.
