Where does “askari” come from?
askari (French) comes from Swahili askari, from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ, from Arabic عَسْكَر, from Persian لشکر, from Middle Persian lškl, from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrákšati, from Proto-Indo-European h₂lékseti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek- — to protect.
askari (French): askari
Ancestry of “askari”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Swahili | askari | soldier, guard; police officer |
| 2 | Arabic | عَسْكَرِيّ | soldier |
| 3 | Arabic | عَسْكَر | troops; army; soldiers, army |
| 4 | Persian | لشکر | army; division |
| 5 | Middle Persian | lškl | army |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | Hrákšati | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂lékseti | to be protecting |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂lek- | to protect |