# abbot

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæb.ət/ · frequency rank #16,395

## Definitions
1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
2. The pastor or administrator of an order, including minor and major orders starting with the minor order of porter.
3. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.
4. A brothel-owner's husband or lover.
5. A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer.

## Etymology
From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās (“father”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, and bwana.

## Easily confused with
- **abo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-abo)
- **alot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-alot)
- **Abby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-abby)
- **about** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-about)
- **arbor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-arbor)
- **abort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-abort)
- **Ascot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-ascot)
- **afoot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-afoot)
- **allot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-allot)
- **abhor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-abhor)
- **Abbott** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-abbott)
- **abb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abb-vs-abbot)
- **abba** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abba-vs-abbot)
- **abbey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbey-vs-abbot)
- **abbas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbas-vs-abbot)
- **Abbie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbie-vs-abbot)

## Common misspellings (4)
`abbto`, `abobt`, `abot`, `babot`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/abbot