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Houris

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A designation by Europeans of those imaginary beings whose company in paradise, according to the Mohammedans' belief, is to form the principal felicity of the believers. The name, derived from hour al oyun, signifies black-eyed. They are represented in the Koran as most beautiful virgins, not created of clay, like mortal women, but of pure musk, and endowed with immortal youth, and immunity from all disease. See the Koran, chap. 55, 56 (Sale's translation); and the Prel. Disc. s. 4; Brande and Cox, Dict. of Science, Liter. and Art, 2:153.