Brewer's: Giaour

(jow'-er). An unbeliever, one who disbelieves the Mahometan faith. A corruption of the Arabic Kiafir. It has now become so common that it scarcely implies insult, but has about the force of the word “Gentile,” meaning “not a Jew.” Byron has a poetical tale so called, but he has not given the giaour a name.

The city won for Allah from the Giaour, The Giaour from Othman's race again may wrest.

Byron: Childe Harold, canto ii. stanza 77.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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