• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / Where does the word “Barmecide” come from and What does it mean?

Where does the word “Barmecide” come from and What does it mean?

March 4, 2020 by Karen Hill

This occurs usually in the expression “Barmecide feast” or “Barmecide banquet.”

It comes from the “Story of the Barber’s Sixth Brother” in Arabian Nights. A poor man who had been without food for several days, it relates, begged for bread at the door of the rich Persian noble, Barmecide.

To his amazement he was invited to the table. Servants brought in golden platter after golden platter, and his host urged him to help himself bountifully. But there was nothing upon any of the platters, though the beggar, entering into the spirit of the jest, pretended to pile his plate full and to eat heartily.

Finally the wine jug was brought. It, too, was empty, though the beggar pretended to fill his goblet frequently and to become quite drunk.

Then, seeming to be intoxicated, he boxed his host heartily on the ears. This and the good nature of the poor man so delighted Barmecide that a real banquet was brought upon the table.

Hence, in modern literature, a Barmecide is one who offers an unreal or disappointing benefit, and a Barmecide feast is either nothing at all or a meal that leaves much to the imagination.

Related Facts

  • What does the term "Barmecide feast" (or banquet) mean and Where does it originate?
  • What does the word "gauntlet" mean and Where does the word gauntlet come from?
  • What does the word incubus (succubus) mean and Where does the word "incubus" come from?
  • Where does the word "Toilet" come from and What does the word Toilet mean in French?
  • What Does the Word Scapegoat Mean and Where Did the Word Scapegoat Come From?
  • What Does the Word "Clock" Mean in French and Where Did the Word For a Large Timepiece Come From?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Where does the word “barbecue” come from and What does barbecue mean?
Next Post: Where does the word “broker” come from and What does broker mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy