assegai

Where does the word "assegai" come from? It comes from Berber zaghaya, passing through Arabic and Portuguese before entering English (1600s).

Assegai’s story begins in Berber: zaghaya meant “a spear.” A Berber word for a slender throwing spear used across North Africa. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Arabic as az-zaghayah. Arabic absorbed the Berber word along with its definite article. From there it passed into Portuguese as azagaia by 1500s. Portuguese explorers adopted the term while trading along the African coast. It reached English by 1600s as assegai. Entered English through accounts of southern African warfare, especially Zulu weaponry. Today, assegai means a slender, iron-tipped spear historically used as a stabbing or throwing weapon by southern African peoples such as the Zulu.

1. Stage 1 · Berber · medieval zaghaya "a spear", a Berber word for a slender throwing spear used across North Africa.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval az-zaghayah "a spear", Arabic absorbed the Berber word along with its definite article.
3. Stage 3 · Portuguese · 1500s azagaia "a light throwing spear", Portuguese explorers adopted the term while trading along the African coast.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s assegai "a slender, iron-tipped spear used by southern African peoples", entered English through accounts of southern African warfare, especially Zulu weaponry.