Obs. Also 7 talasumany, talsuman; pl. 6–7 talismani, -manni, -mans. [= F. talisman, of uncertain history; occurring in Fr. and Eng. considerably earlier than TALISMAN2 It appears to be a corrupt or mistaken form of some Arabic, Persian, or Turkish spoken word, imperfectly caught by early travellers. See Note below.]
A name formerly applied to a Turk learned in divinity and law, a Mullah; sometimes to a lower priest of Islam, a religious minister, a muezzin.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 208. This … Mosquita hath … 5 steeples, from whence the Talismani call the people to the Mosquita.
1615. Sandys, Trav., 31. Turrets, exceeding high, and exceeding slender … from whence the Talismanni with elated voices (for they vse no bels) do congregate the people.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. (1903), 19. They are instructed by old Talismans called Cozza, as it were doctors of the law.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IV. 142. The Talasumany, which is the chiefe Priest. Ibid., VIII. 369. To maintaine them, and a hundred Totsecks and preaching Talsumans … extendeth to two hundred Duccats a day.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 267. The Talismanni regard the houres of prayer by turning the 4 hour’d glasse. The Muyezini crie from the tops of Mosques.
1668. Rycaut, Pres. St. Ottoman Emp., II. vii. 114. Imams or Priests, Doctours of their Law, Talismans and others, who continually attend there for the Education of youth.
[Note. Professor Margoliouth suggests that the word intended may possibly have been ṭailasān, a form of hood thrown over the head and shoulders, especially by preachers, but also used by doctors of law and others (see Dozy, Dict. Noms de Vêtements Arabes, 278). The wearer of this might be designated ṭailasānī, and this corrupted into talismānī. But evidence is wanting.]
