Etymology Explorer › Somali

Where does “askar” come from?

askar (Somali) comes 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.

askar (Somali): soldier or police officer

Definitions

  1. soldier or police officer

Ancestry of “askar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicعَسْكَرtroops; army; soldiers, army
2Persianلشکرarmy; division
3Middle Persianlšklarmy
4Proto-Indo-IranianHrákšati—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂léksetito be protecting
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂lek-to protect
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek- →