English

Proper noun

Sheba

1. (biblical) An ancient kingdom in Arabia or possibly in Africa.
   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Kings-Chapter-10/#1 1 Kings 10:1::

     And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

2. (very rare outside the Bible) A male given name.
   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Samuel-Chapter-20/#1 2 Samuel 20:1::

     And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

Derived terms

• Queen of Sheba

Translations

Etymology 2

Short form of Bathsheba.

Proper noun

Sheba

1. A female given name.
   • 1996 Martha Grimes, Hotel Paradise, Headline, ISBN 0-7472-1538-3, page 172:

     'I was kinda sweet on her my own self. Sheba Otis, her name was then.' I was surprised. 'She married a Queen? Which one?' 'Can't say.' He sighed. 'Her name's Bathsheba, but she never liked that much.'