Also wilayet. [Turkish, ad. Ar. welāyeh, -yet district, dominion.] A province of the Turkish empire ruled by a vali, or governor-general.
1865. Morning Post, 31 March, 4/5. This ‘Vilayet’ of the Danube—a Turkish administrative term—is formed of the old province of Silistria. The Vilayet is divided into seven ‘Sandjaks,’ which coincide with the French arrondissements; and each Sandjak in turn is divided into a certain number of ‘Cazas,’ or cantons.
1869. Times, 15 Oct., 8/3. Those Ottoman subjects who have passed an examination in preparatory schools will be admitted for three years as boarders to the Lyceum in each chief town of a vilayet.
1880. Fortn. Rev., Feb., 174. An honest man is sent to introduce reforms into some vilayet.
1884. Pall Mall G., 5 April, 3/1. Everything seems to be going as well in the late Vilayet of the Danube as it is going ill in the Pashalik of the Nile.
