derbendci

English

Alternative forms

• derbendcis

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish دربندجی (derbendçi).

Noun

derbendci pl (plural only)

1. The guards charged with maintaining and defending a derbend in exchange for tax relief.
   • 1993, Peter F. Sugar, Southeastern Europe Under Ottoman Rule, 1354-1804, →ISBN, page 39:

     The derbendci, some two thousand families of Rumelia, acted as guards of mountain passes, bridges, and other strategic locations in exchange for tax relief and represent a transition from real fighters to auxiliary forces.

   • 1998, Tom Scott, The Peasantries of Europe, →ISBN, page 306:

     The derbendci, inadequate in number, could not cope with the new situation.

   • 2006, Suraiya Faroqhi, The Cambridge History of Turkey, →ISBN, page 161:

     In other areas self-rule resulted from the fact that certain occupational groups, such as miners, tar extractors, horse breeders, derbendci (guardians of mountain passes), saline workers or producers of gunpowder, had been exempted from certain taxes, and subsequently these 'privileges' were associated with their settlements as well.

   • 2007, Mark L. Stein, Guarding the Frontier: Ottoman Border Forts and Garrisons, →ISBN, page 90:

     These exemptions were similar to those granted to the derbendci, men who guarded roads and mountain passes.

   • 2012, Michael Ursinus, Grievance Administration (Sikayet) in an Ottoman Province, →ISBN, page 41:

     Entire villages were often charged with the derbendci duty and consequently exempted from certain taxes.

Translations

Translations

• Greek: please add this translation if you can
• Macedonian: дервенџија m (dervendžija)