Dervish

Definitions

1. A member of a Sufi Muslim ascetic fraternity of mendicant friars.
2. An itinerant Sufi mystic practicing voluntary poverty in devotion to God, and often engaging in ecstatic rituals.
   historical
3. A citizen or inhabitant of Darawiish (circa 1895–1920 C.E.), an anti-colonial polity in modern Somalia headed by Sufis.
   historical
4. A citizen or inhabitant of Darawiish (circa 1895–1920 C.E.), the Dhulbahante anti-colonial polity geographically corresponding with Khaatumo.
   historical
5. One of the followers of Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi of the Sudan, in the 1880s.
   historical
6. Any irregular guerrilla fighter resembling the Sudanese Mahdi in equipment, uniform, tactics, etc.
   broadly

Equivalents

Examples

“The Hejaz war, meanwhile, would be one of dervishes against regular troops.”

CEFR level