Etymology Map
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Lascar

4 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means historically, a sailor from India or Southeast Asia employed on European merchant ships

Where does the word "lascar" come from? It comes from Persian lashkar, passing through Hindi and Portuguese before entering English (1620s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
lashkar
Persian · medieval
"army, camp"
meant "army" or "camp"
2
Stage 2 of 4
lashkari
Hindi · 1500s
"soldier, native sailor"
narrowed to mean a soldier, and later a sailor
3
Stage 3 of 4
lachar
Portuguese · 1600s
"native sailor"
Portuguese colonial sailors used it for South Asian crew members
4
Stage 4 of 4
lascar
English · 1620s
"East Indian sailor"
adopted by English seafarers trading in the East Indies
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