Chapter SYCE to SYUD of S by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

SYUD, s. Ar. saiyid, ‘a lord.’ The designation in India of those who claim to be descendants of Mahommed. But the usage of Saiyid and Sharif varies in different parts of Mahommedan Asia. [“As a rule (much disputed) the Sayyid is a descendant from Mahommed through his grandchild Hasan, and is a man of the pen; whereas the Sharif derives from Husayn and is a man of the sword” (Burton, Ar. Nights, iv. 209).]

1404.—“On this day the Lord played at chess, for a great while, with certain Zaytes; and Zaytes they call certain men who come of the lineage of Mahomad.”—Clavijo, § cxiv. (Markham, p. 141–2).

1869.—“Il y a dans l’Inde quatre classes de musulmans: les Saiyids ou descendants de Mahomet par Hucain, les Schaikhs ou Arabes, nommés vulgairement Maures, les Pathans ou Afgans, et les Mogols. Ces quatres classes ont chacune fourni à la religion de saints personnages, qui sont souvent designés par ces dénominations, et par d’autres spécialement consacrées à chacune d’elles, telles que Mir pour les Saiyids, Khân pour les Pathans, Mirzâ, Beg, Agâ, et Khwâaja pour les Mogols.”—Garcin de Tassy, Religion Mus. dans l’Inde, 22. (The learned author is mistaken here in supposing that the obsolete term Moor was in India specially applied to Arabs. It was applied, following Portuguese custom, to all Mahommedans.)