besa-besë

Albanian

Alternative forms

• besabesë

Etymology

Reduplication of besë (“oath, vow”).

Noun

besa-besë f (uncountable)

1. solemn vow of alliance

   bëj besa-besën ― to swear alliance solemnly

Descendants

• → Aromanian: besa-bes

Interjection

besa-besë

1. I swear alliance! on my honour!

References

• FGJSSH: Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe [Dictionary of the modern Albanian language]‎^[1], 1980, page 126a
• Mann, S. E. (1948) “besabesë”, in An Historical Albanian–English Dictionary, London: Longmans, Green & Co., page 25b