lascar

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

Lascar’s story begins in Persian: lashkar meant “army, camp.” Meant "army" or "camp". By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Hindi as lashkari. Narrowed to mean a soldier, and later a sailor. From there it passed into Portuguese as lachar by 1600s. Portuguese colonial sailors used it for South Asian crew members. It reached English by 1620s as lascar. Persian 'lashkar', army; lascars made up much of the crew on British merchant ships. Today, lascar means historically, a sailor from India or Southeast Asia employed on European merchant ships.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval lashkar "army, camp", meant "army" or "camp".
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · 1500s lashkari "soldier, native sailor", narrowed to mean a soldier, and later a sailor.
3. Stage 3 · Portuguese · 1600s lachar "native sailor", Portuguese colonial sailors used it for South Asian crew members.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1620s lascar "East Indian sailor", Persian 'lashkar', army; lascars made up much of the crew on British merchant ships.