Where does “nishani” come from?
nishani (Swahili) comes from Arabic نِيشَان, from Persian نشان, from Middle Persian nyšʾn', from Proto-Iranian ni-, from Proto-Indo-Iranian ní, from Proto-Indo-European ni — down.
nishani (Swahili): medal, badge
Ancestry of “nishani”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Arabic | نِيشَان | — |
| 2 | Persian | نشان | sign, mark; aim, target, butt; medal, order,... |
| 3 | Middle Persian | nyšʾn' | mark, sign; banner |
| 4 | Proto-Iranian | ni- | down |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | ní | down, downwards; in, into |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ni | down |