The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Vilayet \Vi`la*yet"\, n. [Turk., from Ar. wil[=a]yah.] One of the chief administrative divisions or provinces of the Ottoman Empire; -- formerly called eyalet. [1913 Webster]The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Eyalet \E`ya*let"\, n. [Turk., fr. Ar. iy[=a]lah.] Formerly, one of the administrative divisions or provinces of the Ottoman Empire; -- now called a vilayet. [1913 Webster]