askari

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A member of a local African military or police unit, usually one serving in a European colonial force.
name
  1. A surname from Arabic.

Word forms

askari askaris

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- Proto-Indo-European *-seti Proto-Indo-European *h₂lékseti Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hrákšati Proto-Iranian *karah Middle Persian lšklbor.? Arabic عَسْكَر (ʕaskar) Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy)bor. Swahili askaribor. English askari From Swahili askari (“soldier”), from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy). Doublet of lascar.

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