Where does “Zildjian” come from?

Zildjian (English) comes from Armenian Զիլճյան, from Turkish zil, from Ottoman Turkish زل, from Persian زیر, from Middle Persian azēr — under.

Ancestry of “Zildjian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1ArmenianԶիլճյան—
2Turkishzilbell; cymbal
3Ottoman Turkishزلcymbal or pair of cymbals or a gong
4Persianزیرhigh-pitched; kasra; underneath
5Middle Persianazērunder
Every word from Middle Persian azēr →Every word from Persian زیر →Every word from Ottoman Turkish زل →