firman

Where does the word "firman" come from? It comes from Old Persian khvadata-, passing through Persian and Ottoman Turkish before entering English (1610s-20s).

Firman’s story begins in Old Persian: khvadata- meant “lord, master.” Compound meaning roughly "created by oneself," i.e. "lord". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as farman. Developed into the word for a royal decree or order. From there it passed into Ottoman Turkish as ferman by medieval. Adopted for sultanic edicts across the Ottoman Empire. It reached English by 1610s-20s as firman. Entered English through accounts of Ottoman and Persian administration. Today, firman means a royal decree or mandate issued by a sovereign, especially in the former Ottoman and Persian empires.

1. Stage 1 · Old Persian · ancient khvadata- "lord, master", compound meaning roughly "created by oneself," i.e. "lord".
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval farman "royal decree", developed into the word for a royal decree or order.
3. Stage 3 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval ferman "sultan's decree", adopted for sultanic edicts across the Ottoman Empire.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1610s-20s firman "royal mandate or permit", entered English through accounts of Ottoman and Persian administration.