/bay/ , n. , pl. beys .
1. a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire.
2. (formerly) a title of respect for Turkish dignitaries.
3. (formerly) the title of the native ruler of Tunis or Tunisia. Turkish, beg .
[ 1590-1600; beg, Old Turkic beg subordinate chief, head of a clan, perh. bai hundred (Guangdong dial. baak ) ]