emir

Where does the word "emir" come from? It comes from Arabic amir, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Emir’s story begins in Arabic: amir meant “commander, prince.” Literally commander, a title for a Muslim ruler or military leader. It reached English by 1600s as emir. Appeared as early as 1542 in an English translation of Antoine Geuffroy's French account of the Ottoman sultan's court; the same Arabic word gave 'admiral'; the United Arab Emirates take their name from it. Today, emir means a title for a ruler or commander in some Muslim countries.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval amir "commander, prince", literally commander, a title for a Muslim ruler or military leader.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s emir "a Muslim ruler or commander", appeared as early as 1542 in an English translation of Antoine Geuffroy's French account of the Ottoman sultan's court; the same Arabic word gave 'admiral'; the United Arab Emirates take their name from it.