wasta n.—Gloss: the Arabic word for influence, personal connections; “pull” or “juice.” Note: While not yet fully adopted as an English word, wasta is increasingly familiar to American soldiers serving in the Middle...
Dearbornistan n.—Gloss: a nickname, often derogatory, for Dearborn, Michigan, which has a large population of Muslims. Note: The “-stan” and “-istan” suffixes are often informally affixed to place names in the...
Burnt Rice n.— «The US is also not leaving anything to chance. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has cancelled a scheduled trip to the Middle East and Congo. President Bush will also be on hand should the matter require intervention at...
goat grab n. at gatherings or celebrations in the Middle East, a communal self-served meal of meat and vegetables eaten with the hands. Editorial Note: This term is used informally by Anglophones not native to the culture. The food eaten in a goat...
sandbox n. the Middle East; a country in that region. Editorial Note: Usually constructed with the definite article: the sandbox. There are many literal uses of sandbox to refer to a desert or sandy land or country. Other senses of sandbox include...
haji n. an Iraqi; any Muslim, Arab, or native of the Middle East. Also hadji; attrib. Editorial Note: Haji is an honorific given to Muslims who have made a pilgrimage to Mecca, but the word often takes on a pejorative sense when used by American...