English Explanatory Dictionary

ferenghi

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A white westerner.

Word forms

ferenghi ferenghis ferenghies

Etymology

In The Journeyer (2010, page 344), Gary Jennings speculates that this word is derived from Frank—Mongols heard westerners call themselves Franks during the Mongol invasion of Europe, and since then the Mongols called any white westerner a Ferenghi regardless of nationality. "Ferenghi" has also been used in the same manner by Turks, Persians, Afghans, Indians and Arabs. See Arabic إِفْرَنْجِيّ (ʔifranjiyy) and Persian فرنگی (farangi).

Related words

farang
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