Where does “askari” come from?

askari (Swahili) comes 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 (Swahili): soldier, guard; police officer

Definitions

  1. soldier, guard; police officer

Ancestry of “askari”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicعَسْكَرِيّsoldier
2Arabicعَسْكَرtroops; army; soldiers, army
3Persianلشکرarmy; division
4Middle Persianlšklarmy
5Proto-Indo-IranianHrákšatito protect, guard
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂léksetito be protecting
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂lek-to protect

Words derived from “askari”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂lékseti →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrákšati →