Turkish Glossary Istanbul's History Chronology The City On The Seven Hills

Turkish Glossary

Arasta:	Covered market associated with a mosque.
Bedesren:	Lockable domed building at the heart of a market area where the most precious goods were sold and stored.
Bekci:	Custodian of a building or site.
Bend:	Dam.
Camekan:	Disrobing room of a hamam
Cami:	A mosque where the Friday sermon is preached, in addition to the weekday prayers.
Carsi:	Market.
Cesme:	Drinking fountain.
Dar-Ul-Hadis	College where the traditions of ıslam were taught.
Dar-Ul-Kura	House for readers of the Koran.
Darussifa:	Hospital, sometimes combined with a timarhane.
Dershane:	Lecture hall of a medrese.
Divan:	Council of State of Justice.
Exedra:	Semi circular recess.
Eyvan:	Vaulted or domed bay, open at one side.
Hamam:	Bath house, often attached to a mosque.
Han:	Inn, or large building associated with a trade.
Hararet:	Hot room of a hamam.
Harem:	Women's apartments in a home the female members of a man's household.
Hoca Imam:	Muslim priest/teacher.
Imaret:	Soup kitchen for the poor, students, travellers, tec.
Kadi:	District judge.
Kadiasker Kazasker:	Chief military judge.
Kaplica:	Bathing establishment supplied by a hot spring.
Kilim:	Flatweave carpet woven on a loom.
Kosk:	Pavilion.
Konak:	Large house, usually built of wood.
Kulliye:	Educational and charitable complex.
Medrese:	Islamic theological school.
Mektep:	School
Mescit:	Small mosque with no mimber where there are daily prayer times but no Friday sermon.
Meydan:	square, open space
Mihrab:	Decorated niche including the direction of Mecca, and therefore of prayer.
Mimar:	Architect.
Mimber:	High, hooded pulpit from which the noon Friday sermon is preached.
Muezzin:	Man who gives the call to prayer.
Muvakkithane:	Room used by timekeeper/astronomer/astrologer.
Namazgah:	Open air mosque with mihrab only.
Oda:	Room.
Pendentive:	Curved triangular surface which makes the transition between an angle and a curve to support a dome.
Pir:	Head of a dervish convent.
Saray.	Palace.
Sebil:	Public fountain where cups of water were issued by an attendant.
Selamlik:	Men's apartements in a home.
Semahane:	Hall in a dervish convent used for ritual dances.
Sicak:	Hot
Soguk:	Cool
Sadirvan:	Fountain for ritual ablutions before prayer.
Serefe:	Balcony of a minaret from which the call to prayer was made.
Seyh:	Head of a religious order.
Soffit:	Surface on the under side of an arch.
Tabhane:	Hospice attached to a mosque complex, usually for travelling dervishes, where 3 days free board and lodging was provided.
Taskim:	Water distribution point.
Tekke:	Dervish convent
Timarhane:	Asylum for the insane
Tugra:	Sultan's monogram, or seal
Turbe:	Tomb or Mausoleum
Ulema:	Doctors of Islamic law, religious leaders of the Empire.
Vakfiye:	Deed of endowment.
Vezir:	Cabinet Minister.
Yali:	Mansion, usally of wood , on the Bosphorus.
Zaviye:	Hospice of the Ahi sect, the Brotherhood of Virtue.