hegira Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 which marked the beginning of the Muslim era; the Muslim calendar begins in that year
    Hejira.
  2. noun a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
    exodus; hejira.

WordNet

He*gi"ra noun
Etymology
Ar. hijrah flight.
Definitions
  1. The flight of Mohammed from Mecca, September 13, A. D. 622 (subsequently established as the first year of the Moslem era); hence, any flight or exodus regarded as like that of Mohammed. ✍ The starting point of the Era was made to begin, not from the date of the flight, but from the first day of the Arabic year, which corresponds to July 16, A. D. 622.

Webster 1913