Dragoman, a term of general use through the East for an interpreter, whose office is to facilitate commerce between the orientals and occidentals. These are kept by the ambassadors of Christian nations residing at the Porte for this purpose.

The word is formed from the Arabic targeman or targiman, of the verb taragam, "he has interpreted." From dragoman the Italians formed dragomano, and, with a nearer relation to its Arabic etymology, turcimano; whence the French and our truchman, as well as dragoman and drogman.