giaour

Where does the word "giaour" come from? It comes from Persian gabr / gaur, passing through Turkish before entering English (1560s).

Giaour’s story begins in Persian: gabr / gaur meant “non-Muslim, infidel.” Originally meant "infidel, fire-worshipper," applied to Zoroastrians. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Turkish as giaur. Broadened to a common Ottoman term for non-Muslims, especially Christians. It reached English by 1560s as giaour. Entered English literature, notably in Byron's 1813 poem "The Giaour". Today, giaour means an old term, used historically by Turks, for a non-Muslim, especially a Christian.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval gabr / gaur "non-Muslim, infidel", originally meant "infidel, fire-worshipper," applied to Zoroastrians.
2. Stage 2 · Turkish · medieval giaur "non-Muslim", broadened to a common Ottoman term for non-Muslims, especially Christians.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s giaour "non-Muslim, infidel", entered English literature, notably in Byron's 1813 poem "The Giaour".