jackal

Where does the word "jackal" come from? It comes from Sanskrit srgala, passing through Persian and Turkish before entering English (1600s).

Jackal’s story begins in Sanskrit: srgala meant “jackal.” The wild doglike animal known for its howl. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Persian as shaghal. Adapted from Sanskrit for the same animal. From there it passed into Turkish as chakal by ottoman. Carried into Turkish for the animal. It reached English by 1600s as jackal. Settled as the English word for the wild doglike animal. Today, jackal means a wild doglike mammal native to Africa and Asia, known for scavenging.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient srgala "jackal", the wild doglike animal known for its howl.
2. Stage 2 · Persian · ancient shaghal "jackal", adapted from Sanskrit for the same animal.
3. Stage 3 · Turkish · ottoman chakal "jackal", carried into Turkish for the animal.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s jackal "a wild doglike animal native to Africa and Asia", settled as the English word for the wild doglike animal.