patroon

noun

pa·​troon pə-ˈtrün How to pronounce patroon (audio)
1
archaic : the captain or officer commanding a ship
2
[Dutch, from French patron] : the proprietor of a manorial estate especially in New York originally granted under Dutch rule but in some cases existing until the mid-19th century

Examples of patroon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nicholas is a patroon—that is, a landowner descended from New York’s seventeenth-century Dutch settlers, who, in this period, were still allowed to run their estates on a quasi-feudal system. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patroon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French patron & Spanish patrón, from Medieval Latin patronus, from Latin, patron

First Known Use

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patroon was in 1719

Dictionary Entries Near patroon

Cite this Entry

“Patroon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patroon. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

patroon

noun
pa·​troon pə-ˈtrün How to pronounce patroon (audio)
: a landowner of a large estate in New York or New Jersey granted by the Dutch
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