name
Meaning 1
A surname from Arabic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
askari
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
Meaning 2
A member of a local African military or police unit, usually one serving in a European colonial force.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy, “soldier, policeman”).
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) Proto-Afroasiatic Proto-Semitic Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy)bor. Swahili askaribor. English askari From Swahili askari (“soldier”), from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy). Doublet of lascar.
Across languages
Translations
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- French: askari — member of local African military or police
- German: Askari — member of local African military or police
- Italian: ascaro — member of local African military or police
- Polish: askarys — member of local African military or police
- Portuguese: ascari — member of local African military or police
- Swahili: askari — member of local African military or police