General
sheba
What does sheba mean?
A flapper known for her glamour and ability to charm.
"She was the sheba of the whole social set."
Origin
From 1920s American slang, inspired by the exotic allure of the Queen of Sheba and fueled by the era's craze for desert-romance films. It paired with 'sheik' as the glamorous male-female duo of jazz-age youth.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'sheba' mean in 1920s slang?
It means an attractive, glamorous young woman, the female match to a 'sheik.'
Where did 'sheba' come from?
From jazz-age America, drawing on the biblical Queen of Sheba and the desert-romance film craze of the early 1920s.
What's the male version of a sheba?
A 'sheik,' the dashing, romantic young man, named after Rudolph Valentino's famous 1921 film role.
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